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Associated Press Davey Johnson's club lost its fourth straight and is now .500 for the season. |
CSNwashington.com
SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Strasburg and Matt Cain each put up seven strikeouts over seven innings, but Pablo Sandoval smacked a walk-off, two-run home run against over-matched reliever Yunesky Maya to give the Giants a 4-2, 10-inning win last night over a shell-shocked Nationals club.
The anticipated duel between aces seemed at first to be a letdown, as the Nationals jumped all over Cain in the top of the first to score two quick runs.
Denard Span singled just past the diving glove of Brandon Crawford to lead off the game, and came around to score standing up on Ryan Zimmerman's one-out double. Zimmerman himself scored one out later, as shortstop Ian Desmond laced a line drive towards the right field foul line.
The Giants cut the deficit to one run the next inning with a classic piece of National League run manufacturing, as No. 7 hitter Gregor Blanco singled on a ground ball, moved to second on Cain's one-out sacrifice, and scored from there on Angel Pagan's single up the middle. Catcher Kurt Suzuki promptly cut down Pagan trying to steal, ending the threat.
And then, the hitting stopped.
After spending the first few innings consistently falling behind in the count, both Cain and Strasburg seemed to get a better feel for their command as the game wore on, battling high winds and higher pitch counts to finish seven innings apiece.
"My command definitely improved as [the game] went on," Strasburg said. "I was having a hard time throwing strikes in the bullpen before the game ... the wind was tough."
Remarkably, each starter ended his outing in the exact same fashion, striking out four consecutive batters before recording his final out of the night on a grounder to the first base side.
It was in the eighth against reliever Javier Lopez that the Nats had their best chance for an insurance run, as Span led off with a double. However, Bryce Harper controversially followed by sacrificing Span to third — his second bunt of the game — instead of trying to score the speedy center fielder himself.
The move would backfire; after Zimmerman was intentionally walked, Adam LaRoche struck out, and Desmond grounded out weakly to new pitcher Jean Machi.
"I'm just trying to get guys in scoring position, get runs on the board," said Harper, who according to manager Davey Johnson chose to bunt on his own.
The Nats would not have another baserunner for the rest of the game.
San Francisco rallied against Nationals closer Rafael Soriano in the bottom of the ninth, with cleanup hitter Buster Posey singling off the pitcher's leg to begin the late-game theatrics. Unhurt, Soriano rebounded to retire Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt and had two strikes on Blanco. The pesky left fielder then drove a 1-2 pitch over Harper's head in right field for a triple, plating Posey with the tying run.
For Harper, that's a play he wishes he could have back.
"I mean, I make that play every day of the week," he said. "Five feet from the wall, that's really a play you should make any time of day."
Washington went down 1-2-3 in the top half of the 10th.
By the time Maya trotted in from the bullpen to make his first major-league appearance since Sept. 27, 2011, the seagulls were circling like buzzards above McCovey Cove, just beyond right field.
Pagan flied out deep to Span, but Scutaro followed with a sharply hit single that nearly took Maya's head off. Sandoval took care of the rest, drilling a 1-0 pitch deep to right field for his eighth home run of the season, and the second walk-off game-winner of his career.
It was a tough end to a game the Nationals led for the first 26 outs, and a tough-luck no-decision for Strasburg, who lowered his season ERA to 2.66 but couldn't improve upon his 2-5 record.
"I feel bad for everybody," said Johnson in the clubhouse after the game.
For the visitors in San Francisco, it was that kind of night.
136 comments:
Davey's and Rizzo's intransigence are going to be the downfall of this team. As I said yesterday, there are no consequences for poor play. Davey just keeps churning out Espy and the Shark even though there are players in the minors who are producing very well. Will they produce at the major league level? Who knows? And the way the team is playing it we might never find out. The team brings up Maya. Maya? Good grief, he can't pitch at the minor league level. Davis, at least, is doing the job down there as are Perez, Kobernus, and Rendon. Hey, and Khol looks interesting. That Morse trade is looking better and better.
These are my random thoughts for the morning except to add that Atlanta have had just as many key injuries as have the Nats.
Why is it that when we score a couple runs early we shut it down for the rest of the game.
Like pushing away from the dinner table after a big meal. Content with our 2 run meal.
Why was Maya in game? The guy is kerosine in a can. Why is he in the big leagues?
Oh, and today is my birthday. I've had 72 years on this earth and am fragile so go easy on me. Now it is time to get ready for my golf game.
The Espi show is getting very ugly. You almost gotta feel sorry for him. Squinting, grasping at the plate for something....anything. Even FP was saying he looks like a guy just blindly swinging, hoping the pitcher might hit his barrel. They need to sit him down. DL him. Anything.
Hit em straight Jeeves. Happy birthday
Happy birthday, Jeeves. If a lost ballgame is the worst thing in your life today, you're doing okay. :-)
I like it when my team wins just like you do. I feel very badly for these guys right now. They are young and lost and have a shell shocked look. Just seems like a few breaks need to start going their way. You can point at a pitch or a catch here or there, but you are usually not going to win when you score two early and then stop. No
Margin for error puts other smaller things in the spotlight that usually don 't destroy you. Coaching should not only be about line up cards and scouting reports and stat sheets. These guys need an intervention. They are too talented to keep playing this way. You can rant and rage all you want but I am just going to be pulling for them to turn it around. You don't kick good people when they are down, especially when they are trying so hard to figure it out. When a chill guy like Mattheu is so tied up in knots that he breaks his pitching hand and a super kid like Bryce is traumatized by the walk, some older and wiser people need to step in and steady the ship.
The WALL, of course. The combination if morning, tiny screen and a walk off loss is not a good one.
Boy, I sure am glad we got another chance to see Maya. Might just as well call someone out of the stand who's wearing a curly W cap to pitch.
Won't be able to watch DVR until later. Was Maya totally bad or one bad pitch bad?
Heartbreaking.
I agree that an intervention is needed. Get Espi the shoulder surgery now. I'd start there. I don't know what else will help, and know that move won't be enough on its own. It's like watching someone near drowning.
And happy birthday Jeeves.
Maya was batting practice bad. Maybe even the Nats could have hit off of him.
Harper in the 2 hole was just not a good idea. Arguably your best hitter, a guy with monster XBH power is out there giving himself up twice in a what you know is going to be a tight game? Davey called the right plays, but used the wrong player.
Espi is embarrassing himself; it's hard to see him struggle -- he is not having fun out there. Rizzo "sticking with him" sounds good and all but it is also not a good idea. It is not helping the club (as it inches toward a losing record), and not helping Danny get better either.
Wow -
Will still be wearing my nationals gear around town the next two days.
I can't begin to tell you guys how uncomfortable it was last night and I can't imagine pitching in that weather. At nats park during batting practice pretty much everyone is out in the field. Yesterday we might have had 8 players shagging fly balls. The only 3 guys to actually do any running before the game were Desmond, Span, and Zimmerman . Of those only span put a huge effort on sprinting from a lead.
You probably get a better view from tv but Danny and roger looked either lost or over matched.
I am worried about Harper. I used to think he had the most explosive swing I had ever seen since Mantle. That is not there right now.
Hard to stay positive right now but I will.
Hate to harp on the weather thing but we went from 87 in Napa to 64 in Muir Woods to a wind chill under 35 all in 24 hrs.
Go nats!
Mark my words, If Espinosa is in the lineup back in DC and K's, he is going to begin to be boo'd. This is the collective wisdom of the fans sending a message to a couple of guys who can't admit they are wrong in keeping Espinosa with a torn rotator cuff in the lineup. Even Bud Harrelson hit better and his justification for being in the lineup was strictly defense for the old Mets. Also, by 4th of July, there will be calls for Mr. Johnson's retirement if this continues. I am almost there myself for him batting Espinosa at the top of the lineup the other night.
Well, the result is what we've come to expect. The highlight of the game for me was when they walked Zimmerman to get to the clean-up hitter!! Haha. Gotta love it!! And, another curly W goes down the tube. Yes, we now just wonder how they are going to blow it. There are just so many different ways....and they all work. Glad I went to the O's game. They pulled it out with a walk-off. Do you remember those??
Don said...
"Harper in the 2 hole was just not a good idea. Arguably your best hitter, a guy with monster XBH power is out there giving himself up twice in a what you know is going to be a tight game? Davey called the right plays, but used the wrong player."
Completely backwards. Davey had the right players in the right spot but called the wrong plays. Or maybe Harper called them himself. Either way, both of his bunts were obviously bad ideas. The first ruined the chance for a huge inning (imagine that inning if Harper gets on instead of sacrificing an out for essentially no gain), the second allowed the Giants to get out of the inning by intentionally walking Zimmerman to get to a lefty-lefty matchup for LaRoche against a guy who owns him.
Both times the right play would have been to let Harper be Harper. Bunting is for pitchers and women's softball players.
Happy Birthday Jeeves.
After the Suzuki pitiful AB I went to bed wondering how we'd lose. Stinks I was correct.
We are just a .500 team folks.
Harper sacrificing twice. Maybe we can have Strasburg mop up too as long as we are wasting our stars.
The team hitting slump continues. You won't win many games with 5 hits. Only Laroche and Zimm are locked in. Harper has hit several weak grounders recently and Davey said he "wasn't right". His bunt attempts are further evidence.
It's pathetic that we have several sub-.200
starters.
SC Nats Fan,
Not even that. Just a bad team. I wish Swami luck with his hopes. But at some point you call a spade a spade. Just a real bad team with a couple of really talented players barely holding them at .500 for the present. I think that is the high water mark for this team this year without some major changes. For sure no playoffs or WS this year. I will just remember last year fondly for the what ifs.
Man, the starting pitching is good.
yeah we are a 500 team because of our staff. It would be awesome if they had some guys hit for them.
Only 2 positives lats night, the short and long term is that Stras is back and Nats have 3 solid starters, if Det comes back they have 4.
Clip pitched his best game in 2 years
Nehatives... so many
Davey playing Maya an Rizzo even having Maya on an MLB team really makes 2 smart guys look like they are clueless
Nats will not contend with Soriano as a closer, maybe Bryce should have had it but as a coach, if my veteran pitcher threw the 2 pitches that followed an 0-2 count, their asses would sit.
Finally, as much as I want to remain positive, why do I keep hearing
the tune in my head "Nearer my God to Thee" when I see the Nats play and the looks on their faces in the dugout. LOL
the ship be sinking
Davey stubbornness + Espinosa frustration = 1 ruined, discouraged player.
nats guy said...
"I think that is the high water mark for this team this year without some major changes. For sure no playoffs or WS this year."
I'll take that bet, nats guy. Even money, I say they finish over .500. You get .500 or under. What do you think?
That offer stands for any of the board's resident Chicken Littles.
Davey stubbornness + Espinosa frustration = 1 ruined, discouraged player.
while I am in Titanic mode... Davey is like the Capt Smith with Espi..."women and Espi first" lol
Davey stubbornness + Espinosa frustration = 1 ruined, discouraged player.
And, I hate to say it and I know it won't happen, but if you are Lerner and Rizzo and you are convinced the talent is here but the guys are underperforming or 'tuning out the messsage' then you wonder how long until the Johnson on the hot seat starts. Just because it is his last year doesn't mean we give him a hall pass and give the year away. As for manager of the year one year and let go the next, well, stranger things have happened.
Yes we should have scored more runs.
No, Harper should not have bunted [the second time especially].
No, Maya should not have been in the game, or even in San Francisco. Thanks, Ryan Mattheus, you knucklehead.
Yes, Soriano made a poor pitch.
No, Bryce Harper did not play the ball correctly that was hit over his head. He catches the ball, the game is over and the Nats win.
The kid is like a wobbling gyroscope right now.
Yes, I think Jayson Werth would have caught that ball, and no, the time for Werth to move to LF and Harper to RF is not here yet when Jayson returns.
No, Davey and Rizzo have not gone from being great last year to idiots 1/4 of the way through this season.
Yes, the Nats will win the NL East.I know it's hard, but relax. We got this. You'll see.
While everything seemed to go our way last year, things are spiraling out of control right now. As Swami said....need some older, wiser heads to step in and calm things down a little. A 2-hit shutout wouldn't hurt either.
Isn't there anyone in the minors better than Maya? For Gosh sakes. Get Karns up here. Is Matt Chico still around? Someone said he is lifting his leg higher now and he's got some extra "pop" on the heater
Allright bowdenball, how about I get under 90 and you get over? I don't think the sky is falling but I don't think this team is as good as anyone thought it was.
Hey folks--
I've been a little busy the last few days and more than a little annoyed at the results on the field, but I needed to pass this on:
On Saturday morning, my father lost his year long battle with cancer. He was a lifelong diehard Cubs fan and became just a fervent a fan when the Nats arrived. He instilled in me my love of baseball at a very early age. He was also the one who told me about this Zuckerman guy in the Times which inevitably lead me here.
There will be visitation today from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Murphy's Funeral Home in Arlington on Wilson Blvd and the funeral will be Thursday morning at 930am at the Cathedral of ST. Thomas More in Arlington.
SCNatsFan
you pose an interesting point. I wonder if this group needs a Weaver or Martin type of manager, one who will kick their asses with tough love.
Gil Hodges had the perfect balance. Davey, while a great manager is too nice to some of these babies on the team.
In hockey, the talented Rangers of the 90's needed a Mike Keenan to kick their asses to a Cup, the Nats may need the same
Ron In Reston God Bless your Father and you. My prayers are with you
Sorry for your loss Ron. My old man died of cancer also.
Et tu, SCNatsFan?
I'm frustrated and disappointed just like the rest of you. I feel you. I've had most of the dark thoughts you all are posting cross my mind in the last 48 hours.
But this team is still .500 and about to wrap up its only real West Coast road trip and the roughest portion of the schedule. There's well over 100 games left. Even if they play .500 ball over the next 16 games, they will be in position win win 92 if they can maintain a .600 pace over their final 100 games, a pace many projected for them all season. 92 wins would easily be enough to host the wild card and might even take the division.
I'm miserable too, but talking about firing a beloved reigning manager of the year who has won the World Series is taking it WAY too far.
"Late collapse spoils Strasburg's gem"
That headline is a bit misleading. The collapse began after Desmond's first-inning double, when Espinosa (who else?) struck out to end the Nats half of the inning. They managed only two hits after that.
Ron, I am so sorry for your loss. I'm coming near to the anniversary of the passing of my baseball-loving Dad. I'm glad he told you about the Insider, and that he shared with you his knowledge and love of the game. My heart is with you.
My deepest condolences to Ron in Reston. You and your father are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sorry for your loss, Ron :(
Condolences, Ron.
Ron in Reston my thoughts are with you. Glad you got to share baseball with your Father which seems like it was very special.
My point bowdenball is not all players respond to managers the same way and perhaps this group has stopped listening to his message.
One more positive: Not only did Strasburg and Clippard pitch well last night they did it in what can be considered October weather. Now if we can only get to October and still be in it....
I am with Bowdenball-rant posts aside when they play bad at Nats park I believe they will get better-much better. It may not be until after the AS break though. These guys need to regroup mentally.
"The kid is like a wobbling gyroscope right now."
I agree. But, I'll be honest, as much as last night hurt, and that catch in right center would've made for a very different outcome, I'm really glad to see that Harper has learned to respect the wall.
In time he will find the balance between Dodgers stadium and AT&T park, but given his proclivity for playing "balls to the wall," as he said, it's good to see him pull up too short rather than not pull up at all.
I do think it's unfair to put this on Soriano. The Giants are maddeningly good at hitting, yet, he induced three playable fly balls. The last just fell.
Anyway, even if you entirely blame him for that one run, it's not his fault he didn't have at least a 2 run cushion.
Etc. It was a team loss that, to be fair, came at the hands of a very good team playing very tight ball, and a very good young player learning not to run into walls.
I'm just glad we aren't all talking about Pete Reiser again today.
SCNatsFan-
This is basically the same group he piloted to 98 wins last season. Sorry, but I don't think he's the problem. The players love him. If they're struggling with anything right now, it's pressure, and firing a wise old guy who's seen it all and replacing him with someone who yells at them seems like the worst possible thing you can do to ease pressure.
Baseball is not an effort-based sport where peak performance requires adrenaline, like football or something. In my opinion, the Nats don't need to be motivated, they need to believe and execute. Davey is the perfect man for that job.
I think Rizzo has to take the good with the bad. Last year he was the architect of this so called WS bound team and I think was named Executive of the Year. Everyone hailed his brilliance for constructing that team. Well he is responsible for this year's team. . This year he let the bench, bull pen and farm system deteriorate. I really question his baseball intellect. What posses him to call up a player like Maya or stubbornly stick with Espinosa. He might think he is supporting Espinosa by insisting that he play everyday but all he has done is destroyed this guy's confidence. Send Maya down and bring up Davis. DA Espinosa and tell him to get his shoulder fixed. Send down Moore to work on hitting off speed. Rizzo do something constructive.
The wheels are coming off and our erstwhile Executive of the Year is just sitting there. For that matter so is our manager of the year. He is not exerting any control over the team. We have our only hitter bunting. We have a pitcher being stupid and costing us two games
Rizzo should take a page from Wren and Cashman on how to build a BP and a bench. Both their teams have been devastated with injuries but they have survived and played sound baseball. We have not. This is not a playoff team thanks to Rizzo. This is an AAA caliber team with a few good players.
Rizzo said he would take his 25 players over any other team. That statement sums up the state of this mess tells how far we are from becoming one of the elite teams.
As to Maya, I doubt very seriously that he will ever throw another pitch for the Nats in MLB.
With Moore, Bernadina and Espinosa we are just giving at bats away and you factor in our pitchers not doing much with the stick that we are giving our team, in some games, 4 or 5 players who are 'hitting', a couple of which don't have good games. That just isn't enough offense to win games.
I'm seriously considering filing away some of these over the top comments like m's at 9:21 so I can repost them WHEN (not if) this team turns it around.
You want off this bandwagon? Fine, get off the bandwagon. I'm sure there's some singing or dancing reality show you can watch this summer in lieu of Nationals games. We survived without these people from 2005 through 2011, we're happy to do it again.
It's fine to criticize the Maya callup, or the team's faith in Espinosa, or any other decision or action. But when you let your anger get the best of you and you say obviously wrong things like calling a 24-24 team a "AAA team with a few good player," that's when you lose me. When you say that Bryce Harper is "our only hitter" when we have the reigning Silver Sluggers at 1B and SS and our 3B has a .371 OBP at the moment? Just stop it. When you do that, the other things you say that may have had merit just get buried under that pile of pig crap.
THis just bad. Don't forget Espi striking out (again) with a guy on second and two outs. I'm so over Danny, he is not turning the corner like Desi did; as soon as the Nationals realize that the better.
As stated here yesterday, Maya should not have been called up; I wish J.C. Romero wasn't on the 7 day DL. Why is Maya even on the 40 man roster?
Moves to think about right now:
1 - Send Tyler Moore down and bring up Chris Marrero or Micah Owings.
2 - Send Maya down are bring up Jeff Kobernus and start him at 2B until he proves he can't hit in the bigs (remember we have an extra pitcher on the roster right now.
m, while I agree with some of your points I will take exception to your statement that this is a 3A team. I sat through a miserable 2 years when the new stadium opened with borderline players with severe character flaws. The clubhouse was toxic. This team is clearly different, both in make up and talent. The Lerners lived up to their name and learned that you can't fill up a major league stadium with 3A players. This team just needs to figure it out. I believe they will.
the Gigantics are world series champs for a reason folks. sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains. think about it
bowdenball, agreed 100% with you @9:16.
We started playing like this during the pennant race last year and haven't found our footing since. I think it's a combo of learning to play under pressure and coping with other teams really taking time to understand our strengths and weaknesses.
The open question right now is: does the pressure cause us to fall apart like a brisket or harden into a diamond?
There are signs pointing in both directions. Can someone distinguish our .500 record from the crossroads? Whither from here?
I agree the Lerners have learned a lot (I believe due to Rizzo's pushing them), but I will never forger these are the same owners who wouldn't pay their rent while games were being played at Nationals Park because they didn't consider it finished. In addition they were famous for slow playing their vendors and reimbusing their scouts. I'm sure one of the first things Rizzo did was make sure that his scouts got paid what they owe.
End of rant!
Yesterday I would have said it doesn't matter Maya is here because he's just here to pitch waste mop up innings but I could not have been more wrong.
Espi, well, see any of my posts on him. Leaving him here is just cruel. Its like leaving a high school kid in college level courses who is failing but you leave him because you don't want to ruin his confidence.
Joe Seamhead said...
As to Maya, I doubt very seriously that he will ever throw another pitch for the Nats in MLB.
We can only hope. There are 6.4 billion people on the face of the earth. Yunesky Maya is the best we can find to pitch the 10th inning of a tie game on the road?
Ttcostant you are right-they need those nudges every now and then, and some of the crap they do is really petty, but if I had my choice of:
A) The 2010 Nats and Jeffrey Loria
or
B) The 2013 Nats and Ted/Mark Lerner
I'll take B every time.
So now we have people blaming the owners. These are the same people that allowed their GM to sign a #5 pitcher to a $13,000,000 deal and a closer to a $22,000,000 2 yr deal.
Everyone wants to blame someone. The ultimate blame is on the players for poor execution and then the s*** can fly uphill to the Coaches, Manager, and GM.
This game was not lost in the 9th inning. This game was lost on poor execution when the team had runners on 3rd twice with less than 2 outs and couldn't score.
Ron in R - - very sorry for your loss.
Heard Davey on 106.7 as I was driving in (therefore, no verbatim notes.) Boy was he up early. Key takeaways:
1. He has confidence in Espi, he's a gamer, blah, blah, blah. No indication that Davey's considering other options. The guys pressed him on when you conclude that someone just isn't going to turn it around as opposed to thinking he's in a slump and will come out of it. Davey said something like "when he gives up" and Espi's not giving up. To me, he looked totally lost last night. I almost feel bad for him.
2. He's really pissed at Mattheus. "Wanted to strangle him." He's an emotional player, but that was irrational.
3. No plans to shake things up with new personnel from the minors. These are the guys we're going to win with. No mention of Zach Walter, Ricky Hague, or Wil Rhymes. :-)
4. Yes, Harper was probably affected by his LA wallbanging experience when he missed Blanco's fly ball last night -- That's a concrete wall out there. But it would have been the play of the year if he had caught it. Has Davey seen the replay?
6. Harper bunted on his own both times. Davey would have liked him to swing the bat. "He's a young player." That's good to hear Davey. Maybe you should have told him that after the first one.
5. When you have an arm injury like Zim did where basically he had to throw underhanded for 3 or 4 years, it's going to take a while to come back from the surgery. Thinks it will be at least June 15 before he's ok. Davey's not worried about it. (Note the sliding from "June" to "at least June 15". Oy.
6. 4. We're going to be fine. Stick with us. It's a long season. Cliche upon cliche.
7. The 106.7 guys (sorry, don't know their names) for all their goofiness actually asked some good questions and pushed Davey on some tough topics. Not a single "how does it feel?" or "how big was it to...?" question. Julie Alexandria take note.
Sunshine, I based my Maya statement on reading Davey Johnson's tone in the post game. He was very diplomatic when answering about Harper, but he seemed to be on the verge of blowing a gasket when asked about Maya.
Bowdenball@ 9:31, I was there during those years wearing my "Curly W" hat, too, and buying my seats..I'm with you about the bandwagon folks, now, too.You want to see something that won't surprise you? Go back to last year's posts when we blew the big lead in the Braves game. Many of the same sky is falling people as now.
Tcostant, its also amazing you will quote one side (the landlord) of what is nothing more than a landlord/tenant dispute when you know nothing of the details.
I rented a home one time and when I moved in the air conditioning wasn't working. I called and called and the landlord wouldn't respond. My best option was to withhold payment of rent and guess what, that got their attention quickly.
The Lerner's are usually the Landlord and not the tenant and probably know better than anyone how tenant rights work. That lease agreeement was made between MLB and The DC Gov't and then assigned to the ownership group when the Lerner's bought the team.
You are just another one that wants to cast guilt on anyone after hearing one side and the fact its brought up 5 years later is a joke.
"To me, he looked totally lost last night. I almost feel bad for him."
I feel terrible for him. I can't even imagine what it must be like. I still cuss at him on TV when he strikes out, though ;).
That said, someone suggested that he'll start getting booed soon at home. I wish I had faith that people had more class than that...but I think it's probably true (unless he snaps out of it).
Now back to the team. I am just sitting back and thinking I should copy what I wrote about 30 days ago except the only difference is LaRoche doesn't need to be put on the DL and Ryan Zimmerman didn't make an error to lose this game.
It's still execution and scoring runs. Remember this: 4.70
These starting pitchers deserve better.
The 6-7-8 hittiers were 0-10 and left 4 men on base. The cleanup hitter was 0-3 and left 3 men on base.
Being 2-8 with RISP isn't awful, but being 0-2 with no RBIs with runners on 3rd and less than 2 outs really hurts.
Sunshine said..."There are 6.4 billion people on the face of the earth. Yunesky Maya is the best we can find to pitch the 10th inning of a tie game on the road"? Yup. Pity, isn't it?
Seamhead, he was asked if he felt sorry for Maya. that's a clown question bro
Davey Johnson's statement to 106.7 notwithstanding, I fully anticipate waking up tomorrow morning and discovering that there have been some 25-man roster changes. With one more game on the road trip, the manager isn't going to throw anyone (especially Danny Espinosa) under the bus (excepting those who do something stupid, like Ryan Mattheus). Regarding Bryce Harper's two bunts, I'm guessing that's more than ill-conceived situational decision-making. For whatever reason -- physical, I fear -- Mr. Harper seemed to feel that he wasn't going to be able to move the runners over (or bring them home) with a full swing of the bat. To me, that's troublesome (and I hope I'm wrong).
Eric, I said "almost" because I just can't feel sorry for a guy who concealed an injury before the playoffs, and may be concealing the extent of his injury now.
As for boos, at the risk of starting a great debate here, I just disagree with people who say you shouldn't boo your own players. If you pay for a seat in the park you can cheer, boo, or do whatever you want, including the wave. Just don't scream in my ear, carelessly spill beer on me, or intentionally block my view. I'm not a booer (except of the umps), or a waver, but I don't think it's my place to tell another paying customer how to behave. It's a free country.
I wondered about Harper's health too, although in the 8th if he had grounded to second, which is what he seems to do alot these days, he would have moved the runner over just as well as the bunt did. And maybe the ball would have gone through. Giving up an out in that situation was really dumb.
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
Tcostant, its also amazing you will quote one side (the landlord) of what is nothing more than a landlord/tenant dispute when you know nothing of the details.
I rented a home one time and when I moved in the air conditioning wasn't working. I called and called and the landlord wouldn't respond. My best option was to withhold payment of rent and guess what, that got their attention quickly.
The Lerner's are usually the Landlord and not the tenant and probably know better than anyone how tenant rights work. That lease agreeement was made between MLB and The DC Gov't and then assigned to the ownership group when the Lerner's bought the team.
You are just another one that wants to cast guilt on anyone after hearing one side and the fact its brought up 5 years later is a joke.
Ghost: I know more than you think and what your suppose to do is withhold a % of the rent related to the fix of the issue; not the full rent for months.
Section 222 said...
Heard Davey on 106.7 as I was driving in (therefore, no verbatim notes.) Boy was he up early. Key takeaways:
1. He has confidence in Espi, he's a gamer, blah, blah, blah. No indication that Davey's considering other options. The guys pressed him on when you conclude that someone just isn't going to turn it around as opposed to thinking he's in a slump and will come out of it. Davey said something like "when he gives up" and Espi's not giving up. To me, he looked totally lost last night. I almost feel bad for him.
Danny is 3 for his last 39 with 17 K's. That is a .077 BA
Keep telling yourself he will snap out of it. Stay in denial.
I've noticed even his most vehement supporters won't even comment anymore. No one person lost this game. It would be a shame if people boo'd Danny. He is over his head and his bosses needed to do the right thing 30 days ago. For some reason they won't.
Davey will do just what he did in the playoffs. Stay in denial. #BobbyGrich
Tcostant said... Ghost: I know more than you think and what your suppose to do is withhold a % of the rent related to the fix of the issue; not the full rent for months.
Again, I am sure they knew their legal rights so unless you were involved in the negotiations, I just take you has a neganon.
222, don't misunderstand me: I only said I thought it wasn't classy to boo your own team. I never said people "shouldn't do it." The only thing that would piss me off more than booing is someone telling people they shouldn't or can't boo. Feel the same way about the wave. I think it's stupid, but I think it's even more stupid to tell people to stop doing it.
"I've noticed even his most vehement supporters won't even comment anymore."
I am and remain a strong supporter of his. I have no idea if he'll snap out of this funk, though. It's absurdly deep. I just don't see a replacement that doesn't make me almost equally nervous for other reasons.
Well, except Lombo, who makes me nervous for exactly the same reason, and lacks even the faint whisper of hope of hitting a homer.
I don't think you boo Espinosa; he is trying as hard as he can. You boo because Davey and Rizzo have blind faith in this guy. Let him go to AA and hear some cheers.
Yeah I was a Espi supporter too, and I think he has to be injured. I can't defend regular playing time for him until he sorts out whatever is bothering him.
Of course part of the reason that I was an Espi supporter was because there were no other real options. Lombo is almost as bad at the plate and worse in the field. Kobernus may be a possibility, but there's nothing in his history prior to 2013 that suggests he can be a decent major league hitter; I think he's just another Lombo. Rendon is the wild card, and I think we just have no choice but to trust the organization to decide if and when he can play 2B in the majors, because none of us have any idea.
btw... where is Corey Brown
Guzman was Mendoza line bad in 2005. He got booed heavily. Frank left him in. He never improved, and the Nats lost the wild card. But it wasn't because of him.
Go ahead and boo Danny. Maybe it will make a difference. But most likely it won't.
"Rendon is the wild card, and I think we just have no choice but to trust the organization to decide if and when he can play 2B in the majors, because none of us have any idea."
I agree with this. I also agree with folks who suggest it's not worth potentially ruining his long term prospects for short term benefit. I think it was Boswell who laid out this argument very well. Finally, his error-prone fielding make me almost as nervous as Danny's hitting.
That said, IF Danny's struggles at the plate are injury related, then I am a huge supporter of putting him on the DL now and fixing it. Here, again, I feel short term gain (his fielding prowess) isn't worth ruining his long term potential.
That said, if it's injury related, why haven't there been cortisone shots (that we know of, I suppose)? I mean, Zim played through a similar injury last season, no? Again, I would opt for the long-term fix over cortisone, but I feel the team would be addressing it in *some* capacity if this is injury related.
I understand and appreciate Mattheus passion and as much as I'd be mad at him for his bone head move as soon as he's ready I'd have him back... have to have players who want to win
pitching makes teams contenders. The Nats have 3-4 solid starters so that is good. If I believe that Clip is back and Storen is close and if I blindly believe some of you that Soriano is a good closer, ten the BP is still short due to Mattheus injury. Everyone else in the pen SUCKS, Duke and Maya would not hold up on ssome high school teams.
This means, Rizzo has to get lucky in the farm system (which me might) or make a deal
On the offensive end, here is my concern...where is the depth and young talent, I thought Moore would compensate for Werth out? if farm is that good, why is not Rendon, Brown and Navarro up, Perez is struggling. In fact, Rendon was starting to hit and that is what is strange about Davey and Rizzo. the weakness is no production from espi
So, in my view, this means Rizzo must make a deal by June for 2 hitters and 1-2 bull pen pitchers.
Eric said...
222, don't misunderstand me: I only said I thought it wasn't classy to boo your own team. I never said people "shouldn't do it." The only thing that would piss me off more than booing is someone telling people they shouldn't or can't boo. Feel the same way about the wave. I think it's stupid, but I think it's even more stupid to tell people to stop doing it.
I will say it. It is classless to boo your own team but people will do it anyway. Booing an umpire or bad call is different. Maybe a play where someone doesn't run it out you feel compelled to yell at the player. Pound your hands and grit your teeth. Yah, bad plays tick me off.
It's not Espinosa's fault. Its his bosses fault for having him a job he's not qualified to do.
so a big question is.... was the Nats so called talent in the minors over rated?
Dominats Vobiscum said...
Go ahead and boo Danny. Maybe it will make a difference. But most likely it won't.
Agreed, and it makes the fanbase look bad. The player is trying hard so I don't blame him.
More recent example was 2011 when fans boo'd Jayson Werth.
Yeah, I'll boo umpires and the other team till I'm blue in the face, and I'll groan and bitch if my team performs badly. But, I won't send straight up ill-will down to the field. I'll simply leave or roam the concourse and drink beer before I'll do that. There's too many other ways to have fun in life.
If things get really bad, instead of booing, be creative, dress up as the band conductor from Titanic or wear a life preserver and have the PA at Nats Park play in the 9th innings "Nearer, my God, to thee"
lol
btw... where is Corey Brown
Who cares? He's had a number of chances, including this spring, to show he could contribute in a serious way to the major league team. He hasn't come through. He's just another of peric's saviors in the minors who hasn't panned out and mostly likely never will.
I've had disagreements with Rizzo and Davey's decisions over the years, that's what being an armchair GM gives you the right to do at no cost, but if there's one thing I trust Rizzo on it's whether a minor league player has major league potential at any stage of his development. That's why I take all calls for the Nats to bring up, take your pick, Nate Karns, Erik Davis, Danny Rosenbaum, Zach Walter, Corey Brown, or Brian Goodwin with a big grain of salt.
Section 222 said...
btw... where is Corey Brown
I just w anted to know dude because I thought he was one of the future stars and I have heard nothing about him.
my point was, if the farm is so good, where are all these guys? Rendon was starting to hit and he sent down, forget that Zim was back, they could have sent Espi down or some one else.
The fact that Rizzo is not bringing these guys up is a red flag
Booing Espinosa is an awful idea in my opinion. He works hard, he gives the game his all, he's homegrown, and he was a key role player in the greatest Nationals season any of us have ever seen.
Also, Espinosa makes $500,000 a year. if you want to boo a player who's making tens of millions because you bought a ticket and you're helping pay his salary, that's your prerogative. But Danny makes the league minimum. The percentage of what you paid for that ticket that's going towards Danny's salary can be measured in fractions of pennies. There will be a number people in the good seats this weekend who make more money than Espinosa does this year.
I hope no Nats fan boos our guy. Or at least I hope those of us who are there and no better shout down the few who do.
mick said...
so a big question is.... was the Nats so called talent in the minors over rated?
Look at their Baseball America ratings. They are middle of the pack and the only prospect ready to play is Anthony Rendon.
The biggest mistake was trading Morse and not getting talent that was near MLB ready. While I love getting back AJ Cole with Krol, the Nats desperately needed that deal to be a AA ready prospect that was close to AAA or MLB ready.
There was a larger void last year after Lombo, TyMo and Bryce came up as they had nobody behind them.
"know better," I mean.
Ghost... thank you, so let me ask you, why isn't Rendon back up? When will he be back?
Maybe we should start hanging targets in the outfield when Danny is at bat...give him something to focus on that's outside his head.
Count me among those who was also an Espi supporter and one who didn't waver on Desmond either--but this has become absolutely ridiculous. I'm getting to the point where I don't care WHO they put out there--Lombardozzi, Rendon, Kobernus, Walters--just anybody else.
Remember when Rizzo cut Daniel Cabrera and said he was tired of watching him pitch? Well, I'm tired of watching Espinosa "hit."
It's not Espinosa's fault. Its his bosses fault for having him a job he's not qualified to do.
It's Danny's fault if the shoulder is bothering him more than he's letting on.
Back in February there was a pretty sizable component of commenters here who were doubtful, given his shoulder injury, that Espi could have a Desi-like breakout season. So it's not like this is a surprise. And I guess it's not particularly surprising, though it's disappointing, that Davey is still sticking with him. But soon it will be June, and something will have to be done.
Don't get me wrong, Espi is not the sole cause of the Nats' current malaise. But a decent hitting 2B and 7 hole hitter (much less 6 hole hitter like last night) is an important component of a successful team. Time to make a move.
I am so tired of the strike three that is three feet off the plate and in the dirt
And the worst part is how Carp gets so excited and yells DANNY ESPINOSA when he gets a hit like it is the hit that changes his career
Again, the big fail here is Rizzo over-hyped his own talent and you can go down the line of all the deadwood that they have on the 25 man roster:
1. Duke
2. Henry
3. Espi
4. Tracy
Question marks are:
1. Haren
Slumping players:
1. Bernadina
2. Lombo
3. TyMo
4. Bryce
That is over 1/3 of you team not getting the job done. Of the big mistakes, Davey has minimized the damage by generally avoiding using Duke, Henry, and Tracy. Only Espi is trotted out there day after day expecting a different result. If he didn't have options, I'd probably say bench him or stick with him but why wasn't he sent back to Syracuse to get his head straight.
Sorry Mick, Corey has been discussed a few times here over the past several days. He was injured, but is now back at Syracuse as I understand it from commenters who follow these things closely.
I thought your question was rhetorical -- like, why aren't we bringing up Corey Brown?
It's been a long time since anyone other than peric claimed that Corey Brown was a future star.
The one thing the Nats have not tried with Espi (since he is Davey 's boy). Have him bunt for five straight times. It might help him in tracting the ball. It's better than striking out two - three times a game. What can it hurt!
Sect222, it's not the shoulder. You can see it in his swing. I'm not saying there is no pain. I'm saying it's the same problem I pointed out mid-2011 that has always been there. He just isn't a good hitter. Even Gio can hit a HR, that doesn't make him a good hitter either.
I can understand that people don't want to accept that Danny has never been a good hitter. Rizzo is still in denial and so is Davey. His hot streaks coincide with when he finally gets into a groove of seeing the ball well. That "groove" is very short-lived because as soon as he hits a HR, he thinks he's a power hitter and starts his bad mechanics all over again.
His 2011 hot streak to start the season was nothing more than a player taking advantage of pitchers who had no book on him. Once they figured him out, it's been ugly ever since.
Now you have the MLB analysts tearing him apart. They are the Johnny-come-latelys. This is nothing new.
To those Ueber fans: I apologize for disagreeing with you but i have been on this bandwagon since the team's inception in 1969. I have seen it all. I have no problem with ownership as they seem to spend money when asked but i do have a problem with our GM who has created a mess. By calling up Maya he proved he is not capable of creating a farm system. Is the farm that bad that he has no other alternative besides Maya? I repeat he is no Cashman or Wren. Remove Zim, Desmond, ALR, Harper and Strasburg and what did you have last night? Enough said. Tell me this is not a AAA team. Do you really think they can win with 3-4 automatic outs in their lineup each day. You can call my comments "pig crap" but I am not buying the crap Rizzo and Davey are selling or for that matter the stuff you are dishing.
Ghost I could not agree more with your thoughts about Danny
m, at least they put a 1-5 together by moving Harper to the #2. The mistake was Suzuki probably needs to be the 6 even though he failed last night. Baseball is a game of failures as we know.
Last night was LaRoche's turn to fail numerous times with men on base. That's the last thing the Nats needed and maybe LaRoche needs a day off. Who can you replace him with? Uh,..........
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
"Again, the big fail here is Rizzo over-hyped his own talent"
As opposed to all the other GMs who don't think very much of their talent, you mean?
Let me know when you hear a baseball GM make a public statement that's anything but optimistic about his organization's young talent. It would be the first such statement in baseball history.
In a morning filled with over the top complaints, this one take the cake.
Who do you replace LaRoche with? How about giving Marrero a start or two at 1B while Moore heads back to Syracuse where he currently belongs?
Nope, I was wrong. Calling a 24-24 team that still has most of the personnel that won 98 games and the division last season is a "AAA team" takes the cake for the most over the top.
I guess I'll just keep having fun watching and supporting my favorite team and its players. Maybe I can find some reasonable people who can discuss the team's fortunes. Here that discussion is getting ruined by people who constantly trying to one-up each other's misery and negativity. I guess maybe that makes you all feel better somehow? Whatever the reason is for the absurd hyperbole, good luck with it.
Ghost, I guess we'll just agree to disagree. Of course, I'm not nearly as sure of my diagnosis as you seem to be of yours. But to say "this is nothing new" when he slashed .239/.315/.411 from 2010 to 2012 in 1428 PAs, vs. .159/.188/.290 so far this year is a real stretch. I think we'd all be thrilled with his historic production at this point.
I'm curious, do you think the shoulder injury had anything to do with his .067/.176/.067 postseason failure? What did you notice different about his swing at that time, if anything?
SCNatsFan said...
Ghost I could not agree more with your thoughts about Danny
Thanks. I don't think people want to hear my negative analysis. Sad thing is that I have been saying this for 2 years. He actually looked good in Spring Training, it just didn't carry over.
Can he be fixed? Possibly to get him to be serviceable. If he hit .230 with a .320 OBP and a mid .700's OPS he would be fine. Right now he's a negative WAR and a black hole in the lineup.
"His 2011 hot streak to start the season was nothing more than a player taking advantage of pitchers who had no book on him. Once they figured him out, it's been ugly ever since."
Yeah. Anyone who bothers to pay attention can see every team pitches him the same way. Because it works. His ST, IMO, was entirely due to the other guys giving him pitches to hit, in the zone. Danny can do that, as can every other position player in the MLs. After the season started, they stopped giving him anything to hit, unless by mistake.
Danny never was able to hit the high fast ball, even before his injury. He has difficulty with pitches breaking away off the outside of the zone. Most guys do. He has trouble hitting breaking pitches that bounce in the dirt. Don't really know anyone who can hit those, either. And he is fooled into swinging at pitches breaking down and in towards his rear foot. Tough pitch for anyone to hit.
The difference is that every pitcher in the league knows, by now, that Danny will swing at every one of those pitches, with almost no chance to hit them. Depending on an individual hurler's skill set, Espinosa will continue to see combinations of the above 4 pitches that he continues to swing at, and miss. If he lays off one, then they will throw him another.
It has gotten to the point where I can predict, with boring consistency, what Danny will do against most pitchers. If he would lay off the junk, they would eventually have to give him something to hit, but he doesn't, so they don't. Most of his Ks come on ABs where he doesn't see a single strike in the zone, or one, at most. Many times he cannot even manage a foul tip.
I am weary of pointing out the obvious. Davey and Rizzo have got to be seeing the same thing I am. Anyone who pays attention can see it.
And their best hitter tears up AA, while their worst hitter continues to give the bad guys 3 or 4 automatic outs in almost every game. The Nats pitchers have got to get 27 outs, but the other guys only have to worry about getting 24, or 23.
Bizarre.
Not a bad notion to move Suzuki up, but why stop there? I think a few of the starting pitchers could bat seventh.
"Booing Espinosa is an awful idea in my opinion."
I agree. He is trying his best. That's all anyone can do.
Ghost, that's what Espy was for a while, what his minors numbers would let you think he could reasonably do, but he's GOT to get control of the strike zone back. He has no plate discipline and there's no reason for a pitcher to throw him a fastball in the strike zone.
[H]e slashed .239/.315/.411 from 2010 to 2012 in 1428 PAs.
If he hit .230 with a .320 OBP and a mid .700's OPS he would be fine. .
Like I said, we'd be thrilled with his historic production. Of course, that would be much worse than the breakout season many predicted and all of us hoped for, or the Hall of Fame career that a certain poster expected for the alleged best athlete on the team.
I remember when I got blasted by Peric for "helping" the Yankees with a Espinosa, Morse, and Clippard or Storen for Cano trade.
Harrisburg is playing a morning game and Rendon is not in the lineup. Just a day off? injury? callup?
One time my son and I watched from the CF bleachers as the Nats centerfielder lollygagged on a single hit to him and the runner advanced easily to second base, then scored on the next batter's base hit. I heckled the hell out of Lastings Milledge that day, not because he couldn't make a play, but because he didn't try.That is the only time I have ever come close to booing any member of the Nats. I won't now, and if you do in my section, I probably will give you a quick evil eye!
"No, Bryce Harper did not play the ball correctly that was hit over his head. He catches the ball, the game is over and the Nats win."
You're right. The kid has got the yips when he reaches the warning track, and he was not positioned properly in that situation. Soriano made the same point, publicly.
It's OK for fans to make their beef, but Soriano should have kept a lid on it. The team needs Werth's leadership in the clubhouse as much as for his play in the field. Desi tries, but he is not Werth. They need to focus on doing the things they need to do to win, and Werth is great at that, especially the little things that matter, like playing the power alley instead of guarding the line in that situation.
If Werth had been in RF, or had been there to mentor the Cyborg during the game, the Nats may have won that one.
I'm curious as to why Harper is playing Right Field instead of Left where he started the season. Eh?
JD, wow, that's interesting........let me check.
"Adamnational said...
I'm curious as to why Harper is playing Right Field instead of Left where he started the season. Eh?"
Because the regular RF, Jayson Werth, is on the DL.
JD, haven't received a call back yet. It doesn't make sense that he would be a bench call-up. Seems RZim is fine. He hasn't played enough 2nd base.
Probably just a day-off but the timing sure is curious.
Ron in Reston, my sympathies on your loss.
blovy8 said...
Ghost, that's what Espy was for a while, what his minors numbers would let you think he could reasonably do, but he's GOT to get control of the strike zone back. He has no plate discipline and there's no reason for a pitcher to throw him a fastball in the strike zone.
His Minors numbers translated well to a call-up. It was questionable whether or not he should have been demoted in mid-2011. He didn't deserve to go North in 2012 after his horrible Spring Training but the problem was that Rizzo had no depth for middle infield and wasn't going to trust 2nd base to Lombo.
In 2012 the other guys were picking Danny up and it also wasn't a high priority until you got to the end of September and he was slumping again. The decision to start him in the playoffs in the 7 hole turned out to be devestating as he was stranding runners at an alarming rate.
This season is just a carryover. I think Davey's and Rizzo's egos won't allow them to admit the mistake. They had a chance in the off-season to address it and they didn't. They spent their money and resources elsewhere.
bowdenball, sounds like you are just with "stay the course". Everything will get better when they get back to Washington.
Chances are they will get better when they get back to Washington. It still doesn't mean that this team has serious holes.
You can ignore it and hope for better BABIP and for someone to get red hot. 24-24 is not good enough for this team but if you are fine with that, it's your perogative.
Bowdenball et al,
Find an antidote for the Kool Aid. I have been supporting and watching Washington Baseball since 1960. I am a Nats fan to the bone. But I know when a team is good and when they are bad. At present, without any changes made, this team is pretty bad. You can call a spade a spade without being called a "Chicken Little". I'll bet I have seen more baseball games in my life than you have.
You can also be a fan for 53 years and be...wrong...no?
Not saying you'll be proved wrong, but...the season has long way to go before you'll be proved right, too.
The Nats are probably earning that BABIP. Maybe it doesn't continue much longer, maybe they get a few more guys on in front of LaRoche and the shift doesn't happen as much, maybe Werth and Ramos heal, but this is a fair snapshot of who they are for 48 games. I don't think there's much bad luck going on.
Sorry, 46. I guess I'm predicting two more games of stinking and then a turnaround.
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