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| Photo by USA Today |
Hitting highlight: In the third inning the Nationals brought three runs across, all thanks to well-placed hits off Vogelsong. Denard Span kicked it off with a single to center field and, moments later, he and Jayson Werth were knocked home by a double to left-center by Ian Desmond. Adam LaRoche then dropped in a bloop single to left to plate Desmond. The rally helped knock Vogelsong out of the game after just 3 2/3 innings and 91 pitches, but later couldn't hold on for the victory.
Pitching highlight: Soriano took the mound in the top of the ninth seeking his 32nd save of the year, but on this particular day it was not meant to be. He allowed a leadoff single to Buster Posey and walked Roger Kieschnick with two outs. Sanchez then blasted a high flying homer to right field, a three-run shot to put the Giants ahead. It was a 3-2 pitch and Sanchez got a hold of it with just about all he had.
Key stat: Jayson Werth is now hitting .331 through 89 games this season, only Miguel Cabrera (.360) and Chris Johnson (.337) have been better among those with at least 65 games played.
Up next: The Nats saw the Braves just over a week ago as they were swept at Nats Park, now they head to Atlanta having gone 5-1. Taylor Jordan (1-3, 4.14) will make what could be his last start of the season with fellow rookie Alex Wood (2-2, 2.78) set to pitch for the Braves.
152 comments:
What I would do for a Craig Kimbrel...
WTF
The guys 1st homer of the season 4th of his catrer and you let him win.
Terrible pitching.
Why did he walk the third run.
The bullpen except for Clip has really sunk in general the last month.
I do blame mcCatty as he never went out. If they win not going out no big deal, but when you lose it a big deal.
Soriano is an idiot who apparently has no idea about when it is appropriate to walk someone and when it is not. He could have let the guy hit a double or triple but no, Soriano decides to walk him.
He almost blew the game last night and then was strutting around pulling out his shirt.
Davey said high pitches were balls all day. So why pitch it high. That is what McCatty could coach.
What do they pay Suckiano?
You cannot be fiddling around as closer. Go right after them. Went after tough hitters and wimped around the weaker hitters.
Nibbling is idiotic for sure.
Another brilliant signing by Rizzo was Mr. Soriano, with his stupid untucked jersey. Leave the damn jersey in and get somebody out next time. Yanking his jersey out last night was the height of idiotic.
He can't go after them anymore because he can't get them to swing and miss like he used to. FP is right in that his swing and miss stuff has dropped off quite a bit. Historically, 11.8% swinging strike down to 8.7% this year. That really tells the story.
The second problem of the game RISP. 11 opportunities only 2 hits.
Giants 2 for four that the run homer.
No add on runs. Cost them again.
That Rizzo guy sure has an eye for talent. Gave up a first rounder for this loser.
That's entirely because of his slider, Amr. Like I said in the other thread, all of his problems stem from the slider. That's always been his strikeout pitch. This year, he's routinely hanging them. He can't even bury them in the dirt when the catcher asks for it there. Without the slider, all he has is a low 90s fastball. That's not good enough.
How do you fix that? I don't know.
William O - yep, gestures like that are annoying at all times, but particularly inappropriate when your team has a losing record. If Soriano wants to keep doing it, he should go stick his head in the toilet or something when he blows a save.
Sorry giants 1-4.
Harper was unlucky in the 9th and it is hard to fault Werth these days, but Desmond's at bat was very poor. We just don't have good at bats under pressure.
Well, the Giants outhit us yesterday. The real issue is that Soriano needs to be demoted. This whole "closer" thing may be the dumbest thing in the history of baseball. Baseball made it through 80 years without "closers".
Eh, that would be pitching 'lowlight.' And I actually think it's a coaching lowlight. Another set of questionable decisions by Davey--first to bring Soriano out, and second to leave him in to the sad denouement.
Why is when we lose like this certain people come out who say little during wins.
Our starters need to go 9 innings to avoid the bullpen altogether
A lot will be made of the LOB number in this game. I think there were 11 LOB. However, Haren stranded 6 himself. Bochy managed well, intentionally walking seemingly everyone to get the matchups he liked and get to Haren. The game still should've been won no doubt, but there was a bit of poor luck in that we couldn't add more runs.
Okay so Soriano has a "Game 5" , Drew like moment.......who does Rizzo overpay for this off season?
$14 million for each of two years? Really?
On the Desi had 2 RBI
The Nats better go out and get Choo this off-season. Rizzo's guys this year have been like a punch in the guy all year.
Forget the game has evolved
You just can't stick with a guy cause he makes 14 mil a year. He has been on thin ice for a long time. He was lucky last night Norv should of went and got him after the walk. I mean davey
Knorr would relieve him. Davey wont
Where you playing Choo
Manassas Fan, if you don't like it, then get lost. I frankly don't care when or why people decide to post,
and guess what? I would rather hear a variety of opinions than those cleared by you, so why don't you get lost and come back after the next win by rout....
Knorr would Davey will never.
Choo plays left. Harper back to center. Span takes the Shark's spot, and we wish Bernadina good luck.
Manassas..... I got 10 or 15 innings left in me. Ill work for 50 grand for the rest of the year. Paid up front of course
I realize this is a soul-crushing loss, but before the series began I said I wanted to 2/3 after sweeping the Phillies. I expected us to lose the Bumgarner game. So in that light, we're not in the worst place ever.
Having said that, we can't keep giving away games that we're supposed to win. We just can't. We don't have time for that. This was a game we needed to win.
I consistent why would I go. Didnt say a name.
Dont remember insulting anyone. I just asked a simple question
Of course
I doubt they would do that.
Between the O's essentially giving three games away in a row to Arizona and now this, I don't know. Of course, nobody seems to win in Atlanta anyway and getting swept by them would be the final nail in the coffin.
What a shock... Blown save= The Return Of The Morning DJ...
Very disappointing loss.... And back in May, we thought we had an embarrassment of riches, at the back of the bullpen.....
OK. Lets go burn Atlanta to the ground (figuratively, of course....)
GYFNGOGOGO!!!!!!!!!
Our outfield is not the problem.
What if we do the sweeping, which of course I think we will do.
5/6 is what I said we needed before we played the Phillies. We got it. They have to ignore how it ended or else, like Haren said, they're going to get rolled in Atlanta. Easier said than done.
MNF, next time I'll ask your permission before I comment. Sorry for the inconvenience.
In fact, our outfield is the main difference between this year and last year, along with 1st and 3rd, and formerly 2nd and Catcher.. Our production in the outfield, along with the bench has dropped greatly. We have been just as good roughly, in right field, left field and shortstop.
You never have time ever. Each loss be in Apeil or Septenber can never be made up, that is why I have a hard time with any close loss, as you can only afford so many, and you never know the number.
Answer it yourself then. Who cares but you say the same thing over and over. People come to post when they either want answers about something, are upset about something or are happy about something. What difference does it make and how does it contribute anything to anyone's discussion. I learn much more from the negative people than I do from the "happy" people, god bless them.
well, look at the bright side, sjm can come home on time...devastating loss, must sweep the Braves in ATL, it can happen but today hurt, no question.
Soriano needs to get the flu or be demoted for a few, put Clip there.
I know Nats stranded 12 runners, once when Haren was batting BUT...does not matter if score is 3-1 or 10-8...Soriano blew it period
I really do not like him, I also think he is low class guy as well, with his untucked crap he does. He owes the team an apology period... what an arrogant bum he is.
Good news is that Rizzo is learning what garbage he needs to throw in the can for 2014...I hope Nats deal his sorry no account ass somewhere over the winter
FWIW, Pitch FX had the 2-2 pitch to Sanchez well in the zone. Should've been called strike 3. Apparently the ump wasn't calling the pitch the whole day, but a strike should be a strike.
Robot umps, please.
What you talking about. I never saw your name before a win or loss.
Specificall i was talking about Mick who talk all nrgative then during wins disapoears, and reappeared after the homer.
You never seen or dont remember might be your first dsy.
Soriano seems to lack proper concentration out there. I particularly despised the way that the got the 3rd out so nonchalantly. Is it that hard to not walk people in save situations and to remember to keep the ball down?
Did anyone see where the homer went in right field? Why can't Masn figure out how to show the entire outfield in right? You really couldn't tell where either of their homers landed.
Outfield fieldibg better. Has less homers and RBI.
Third and first are probably worse than last year more or at lesst close to it.
Clip is a winner, 3 days in a row he brings it...Soriano, if he had any cares would have wanted to redeem himself and bail his team out the way the team bailed him out last night.. he is a BUM!
The mind set going into Atlanta, the team can thank Soriano.
I will not blame Cat or Davey...Soriano is a VETERAN!!! hello! He is ahead in the count and he blows it, he did that as well last night.. He is paid to close not blow the game
That would make us different. Thankfully for both of us.
Manassas Nats' Fan said...
Specificall i was talking about Mick who talk all nrgative then during wins disapoears, and reappeared after the homer.
that is a LIE!!! you are cherry picking my posts...also i am still at beach and do not have access to internet all the time
He sure doesnt make like asy. He tries the slider way too much after 2 strikes for my tase.
MNF
did you read my posts this morning??????
should have been 60-60 with 42 to go, with momentum...one clown destroys all the momemtum the team had gained
Relievers are going to blow saves, but the useless walks and keeping the ball up by Soriano are pretty damn annoying. I will have to look at some advanced stats but I believe that his ERA far exceeds his utility. 5 blown saves is a lot of blown saves for a whole season for an "elite" closer, and maybe even for a non-elite one. Teams generally win over 90 percent of their games when ahead in the late innings, regardless of closer, but not the Nats (or O's).
Pitch track on TV had it high.
Since it was high all day I would not expect a strike. Then. That is McCatty, Davey and Suzuki need to tell him to keep it down. As that is what is being called a strike.
Phil Wood is bashing Soriano as well, says he is not an elite closer and never has been... Phil sounds disgusted as well
Emotional response - what a bum.
who is blaming Jim Joyce? are you joking, this was not the HP's fault in any way
It appeared by the angle of the camera and where Werth went to be about 15 feet inside the line at the edge of the upper deck.
Soriano seems to lose focus on every batter once up 0-2 or 1-2. Then pitches crap sometimes getting outs some times hit. But tge first 2 pitchrs are fine.
Clip is easily MVP OF THE TEAM
It doesn't matter if the outfield is fielding better unless it is fielding enough better to offset the decrease in production, and it isn't even close. Werth has been great and Harper has been about the same as last year, but we got like 30 homers from the other slot.
Repeat after me. The Nats won 98 games last year with a terrible fielding outfield. The Nats won 98 games last year with a terrible fielding outfield.
We all want to believe in Santa Claus and the American Way and that fielding is just as important as hitting. It isn't. It hasn't been in 90 years, if ever.
I havent seen you in a game post during tge winning streak.
mick, agree but Sorryano's location has been awful the last two games, just awful and he throws 90-92 which is not going to be successful at this level but his location is the problem...if we could see that, why couldn't the coaches see that & get him the heck out of there esp vs. a left handed hitter with 2 men on...let Krol face him esp since he sucked last night!
par for the course this year.
Actually, it is Werth or Zimmermann, but Clippard has been very good. If Harper can have a September like last year, then he still is in contention.
I basically only read game post and post analysis. Rarely read much of the morning post. I am busy most mornings.
So you could be there all yhe time and I dobt see as I basically just fo games.
I would say more like 67-53. I would say we have about 8 games we given away more than we were given
Another season will be lost if this team has Soriano closing next year.
I have said this before, but I think it is a fair point.
Many people think that posting after wins is unseemly, a bit like untucking one's shirt to gloat after beating an opponent.
Obviously many people don't understand that, but different strokes for different people.
For elite 90% sounds right. Average closer to sabout 80%.
Either way Davey agrees the walk was where Soriano started to really give it sway.
My wuedtion is then if he felt that way why was no one warming up in case he walked him. Why,? Becsuse he trusts Soriano, and we don't.
Phil Wood has see a lot.
He eas calling low strikes. Some pitch trak ssid the pit!h before the homer was a strike.
Be that as it may. Soriano just needs to throw anotherstrike low on yhe nrxt pitch. That was not Joycr,'s fault.
Got to make him put the ball in play says Davey, about the walk.
Many believe like you. I would love that too, but we should win with ehat we have too.
Just keep the ball low
Davey says that Soriano has been consistent.
I agree with that.
It was the same pitch that Stanton clobbered, although not quite as high but still way too far in the wheelhouse.
Untucking seems silly for sure, but different things for diffetent peoplr
I just don't think it is a good message for our youth and it just looks unkempt.
Here is the ironic part. They intervirw Haren, who actually spoke as if it was his fault they lost.
No sign of doriano at all. I gess I need to check twitter.
Phil Wood sounds a bit despondent. You think of professionals in the media as above all that but I guess he is a fan.
No Soriano quotes on Twitter.
Phil Wood is just as much fan as us.
See Manassas, now everybody left.
I like post game interviees win or lose. Seems Haren is the best interview on the team. Talks win or loss.
Want to hear Soriano's take on the ladt 2 days
Apparently Haren was hurt, but why not admit it? The whole thing was bizarre.
So close to reaching .500 and then Soriano does his magic just like he did against Atlanta and Miami and L.A. and against someone else, earlier in the season.
Section 222 said...
Ghost and Faraz, you don't really believe that there is as much of a difference in fielding between Rendon and Espi as there is in hitting do you? That's crazy. I'll concede that Espi is the better 2B. But not by that much and Rendon is getting better and better.
August 15, 2013 7:18 PM
I think the 2012 Espinosa was 2nd best in the NL. Like I said, this year he wasn't diving for balls because of his shoulder so I think Rendon has performed better though you are getting some errors as he is learning on the job.
On batting, no comparison as Rendon is the real deal.
Espinosa is like Ross Geller in the episode where he refuses to get a shot and wants the doctor to use a "thwirt gun".
For some reason, he is deathly afraid of going under the knife and it is costing him big money.
I agree with that Ghost.
We really should have added on, scoring early like that-- a very common problem. I am actually glad to see that most of the team still takes losses hard. Soriano is a hired hand who does not seem much like he is part of the team. Something about his signing has never felt quite right. Last night Span saved the game, not him. And I also am not a fan of the untucking. Just a personal feeling. He should be able to close days in a row. He seemed to pout over that call and then just phone it in. Like the day when Knorr pulled him. Hope they are feeling this on the way to ATL. Put it out of reach before the 9 th.
After he is ahead 0-2 he just pitching sliders only.
Not getting add ons in a problem a lot of the season.
baseballswami said...
We really should have added on, scoring early like that--
I posted the same after the Belt HR that the Nats needed some add-on runs. The bullpen just feels over-used. I would have gone with Clip in the 9th and Krol in the 8th. Oh well.
I remember when relievers used to pitch multiple innings multiple times a week. Maybe they are all throwing harder now and not saving anything in reserve, but it doesn't seem like ANY of these relievers are throwing that many innings.
Manassas Nats' Fan said...
I havent seen you in a game post during tge winning streak.
on vacation and guess what...you did not see me in any game post or post game posts in any of the Braves losses.. either
Rendon is going to be an All star...he went through his slump and readjusted. This is what Tyler Moore failed to do . Rendon is a bright spot on a dark season
mick said...
Rendon is going to be an All star...he went through his slump and readjusted. This is what Tyler Moore failed to do . Rendon is a bright spot on a dark season
August 15, 2013 8:57 PM
Agreed with that. I'm thrilled at his progress to the point that I don't even want him moved from 2nd base.
I have a great idea. Let's all of us, post when we feel like posting and let's not post when we don't feel like posting. I just think it makes sense as a posting rule of thumb. I want to hear your opinions, not bickering about timing of posts.
When we gave soriano 28 mil over 2 years and saw his saves I went woooo hoooo (sorry Michelle ). Then when I watched him pitch and saw his stuff I was disappointed He has saved his share of games but I never, ever, have felt comfortable with him closing . It's always a struggle......always....cause the stuff ain't there anymore. And then he popped off about Harper early in the year. I don't know. We had such a close knit club last year. My opinion, soriano needs to go. Regardless of the money
I saw something that said that Espinosa has better range and makes fewer errors, but Rendon seems to make a lot of wow plays. Of course, Harper isn't playing as well as he might be right now, but the two of them should be excellent players for years to come.
Very few "closers" are for real. If they were, they would be starters, not relievers.
Haren has shown a lot of heart...he has blamed himself when he pitched horrible...Soriano has never once owned up to anything...he is typical ex Yankee BUM full of himself. when he blamed Harper for a loss back in May, it was clear that he was not a National...
I am more upset with him untucking his shirt last night than I am his piss poor performance today. Is this the kind of players the Lerners want representing this team??? He is not a champion, he is BUM on and off the field
WOD
Harper and Rendon are going to be great....only a blind moron thinks Espi should EVER play over Rendon
None of these guys want to show any vulnerability. Soriano should have been racing out to center with Harper instead of prancing. Strangely enough, one might argue that relievers get too much credit when they win or get a save, and too little blame when they blow one.
can Nats package Espi and Soriano like right now to another team?
When all you are capable of posting is hate, then yes it is pretty unseemly to be posting after a win.
Agree bout Haren. He's a true pro. I've ripped him all year about his pitching. Attitude etc....he's a keeper. If I was rizzo is offer him a contract for next year. Maybe at 1.5 mil for a one year deal
Espinosa had decent power and was a very good fielder. I can't remember his speed since he never got on base. I think that they are going to have issues because of Zimmerman, with Rendon at 2b bacause Rendon is such a good hitter and you usually have that at 3rd base and Zim has lost a lot of his power.
WOD
your right...but Soriano takes his arrogance to an unacceptable level for me. I simply do not like the guy period... let me put it this way...I liked Dukes and Morgan more than him when they played here
LOL
Any word on the guy who took a ball to the chest?
William O. Douglas Loeffler said...
I saw something that said that Espinosa has better range and makes fewer errors, but Rendon seems to make a lot of wow plays.
It depends where you are reading but not factual on the range if you believe in the FanGraphs ratings for this year. Like I said, last year different story.
Rendon's range is much better than Espinosa's this year at 2.5 for Rendon to 1.7 for Espinosa but Espinosa has a higher UZR because of the errors factored in. Rendon is a -2.3. Espinosa is also rated better on turning the doubleplays.
A crummy pitcher goes for a few million now since most of the younger stars are underpaid due to union rules.
I am glad that Haren and Span have been doing better lately, but let's not forget when we needed them to be ready to do that. It was on day 1, not day 110.
At a certain point, all you can do is go forward in order to make predictions but I am not going to get all warm and fuzzy if Soriano or Span or Haren has a great August and September after falling 15 games back. The pressure is off now.
swami
from Giants web site
Manager Bruce Bochy said the rookie reliever, who sustained a bruise, could be sidelined for at least a couple of day
Well, that was fun, up until the last inning.
Was at the game. Very disappoining. You can't leave 11 men on base at this level. Killer instinct seems lacking. Unless I hear otherwise it will look like another bad move by Davey -- bringing Soriano in for a second night in a row when he was being hit last night and saved only by Span's magnificent catch. Very deflating.
I feel for Haren and the team and all fans at the game today. Soriano does not tweet anything...how about, i let my team down
I was at the game and I'm as disgusted, dismayed, disappointed, and just plain pissed off as anyone else here. Mad enough to stab a kitten to death. And I like kittens.
But folks, can we cut out the sniping at each other here? Nobody here caused the Nats to lose today. Let's try to be civil to each other at least.
I'd be wary of saying Zim lost a lot of his power. He is still recovering from shoulder surgery. Remember some people here were insistent that Werth lost his power. It's not likely that a 28 year old has lost his power for good. He should be better next year.
you win championships with character guys ...Soriano is an arrogant me myself and I player...he is a disease among young players who want to win and sacrifice for their team mates. get his ass out of here, please Mike Rizzo, I'm begging you!
(Off to hide the kittens now. Later.)
R Zim is still a player and he has been hurt all year while hitting above 270.
I tend to go by my eyes and I think Rendon is plenty good enough as a fielder at 2nd. He seems to make more great plays than Danny did. I look at that stuff and I am not sure what to make of it. Many baseball guys say that Span is having his best year as a fielder but the advanced metrics for him all seem to be down.
I honestly think advanced defensive stats have about as much science behind them as does the latest investment profile peddled by a wall street firm.
What we do know, is that teams win divisions and pennants and world series with a variety of types of players, and many of them are poor fielders. I get the impression that many people seem to have bought the argument that the Nats could not have contended with Morse in left field, which is patently false.
Long story short: It is impossible for Espinosa to field well enough to make up for a .150 average and it is all but impossible for the Nats' outfielders to field well enough to make up for the lack of production by Morse (and Moore) in left field last year.
Candide AMEN brother!!
there are those who want to see others blink first with their emotions then go after them...
Ghost. I'm coming around to your thinking of Zimmerman. How old is he....28? 29? But that's an old twenty something. Would love to know what he runs the 60 in. My guess would be 7.7. I think it's time for him to get a trainer in the off season and start bustin his ass, cause the man is closing in on him
Actually, it seems pretty civil in here tonight. We have all seen much, much worse....
BigCat
this is why he will play 1st one day, when ALR is gone...this will save a lot of wear and tear on Zim...it will also make him a better hitter, less vulnerable to injuries
I have to agree that Soriano has been an arrogant, non- team player, ex-Yankee. That was not a solo home run. That was a freaking three run bomb with 2 outs and 2 strikes, hit while he was pouting over a strike call. And he did not save the game last night, Span did. Something about his presence just has not felt right this season. There was an article in the media today about how Haren and Span worried that they had contributed to the change in the Nats this season. Ahem. Uh, no- not the two of you.
If A Rendon gets serious and hits the weights in the off season he can be a star in MLB
swami
excellent post
I'm amazed people are so upset by this loss. The season is done already. Sure it's nice to get some momentum going into next year. But really, get over it. This team has just sucked this year. We'll play out the string and regroup for 2014. We still have a great core. Things are good.
Big cat
I think Rendon will do that, not just for power, but to avoid injuries...this is where John Philbin earns his pay...he is a good personal trainer and I wish other Nat players would buy into him.
William O. Douglas Loeffler said...
I tend to go by my eyes and I think Rendon is plenty good enough as a fielder at 2nd. He seems to make more great plays than Danny did.
He seems to have an instinctive feel for where first base is. Both yesterday and today, he dove to spear hard-hit balls to his right, spun around and slung sidearm bullets right into to LaRoche's chest, I swear, before his brain could possibly have registered where LaRoche actually was.
Both plays almost identical - 3rd inning yesterday, 8th today. Check the videos.
And he's only been playing second a few months. Kid's gonna be great.
Yes mick. But zims pop with the stick is leaving also. He needs to change his whole approach st the plate (my opinion)
And as for Zim- he could not have possibly come into ST in shape as he had major surgery in January. If you recall, he spent most of ST pretty inactive, only starting to throw off of flat ground and then quickly ramping up. He was not ready. Give him a full off season with no surgery, wedding or honeymoon in Africa. He should be in much better shape next season.
no question the core of this team is very good...just few tweaks
1) rebuild the middle relief
2) Either Clip or Storen should close in 2014 (I am assuming Storen will get his head on right)
3) The new kid should be 7th inning reliever
4) 1-2 more bats
5) get rid of garbage like Soriano
team will be fine
Bigcat
you may be right, however, i really think he has been hampered with a bad shoulder the past 2 seasons
I don't mind Soriano's personality. I think closers need to have a certain attitude. I like his attitude. It's not like he's a bad guy, getting into trouble off the field or something. I remember earlier in the year when he invited the whole team to his house for dinner with his family. Now he did run his mouth about Bryce, which I did not like one bit. But on the whole, it's not a big deal to me.
Now his performance on the other hand..
William O. Douglas Loeffler said...
I tend to go by my eyes and I think Rendon is plenty good enough as a fielder at 2nd.
No doubt about it and as I always say I use my eyes first and back it up with the stats but I also know the UZR stats do have some subjectiveness to them but they get you close.
I think the fixes needed for next year is obvious. The ? is whether RZim can improve and what do you do with LaRoche.
time to hit the board walk one last night
I'm going to bed. As a kid I used to go to old RFK and loved it. And we had some horrible teams. Then they left and we went 30+ years without a team in DC. I mildly followed the O's but Angelos ruined all that. It is still a joy just to have a team here to watch on HD every night. I still trust Rizzo to do what's best. Would you rather have Bowden back?
Was at the game. What a heartbreaker. Clipp should close he is better. But davey will not do it. Minus Spans diving catch last night this is two blown saves. And what irritates me is sorry oh no wont lose any sleep over it.
Clippard is so much better than Soriano its mind blowing who our closer is.
I am not sure that Bowden was ever even given a go-ahead to do anything by the Lerners. It was pretty obvious that they were bottoming the team out.
I think the question is whether someone would rather watch a very good to good team like we have had the past couple of years, or whether one would watch the Nats of the 1960's. Of course, everyone prefers the contender, but that is a very different question from whether the general manager should be Rizzo, Bowden or someone else.
That might be a strong comment, but I can see how it can appear that way.
I hope his shoulder returns to 100% over the winter.
Got to love the color comnentator fro Tampa Bay .
Learned this.
Since Ben Alflack won the wrting Oscar for Good will hunting in 1997. The Red Sox (his team) is 0-15 on his bithday (today)
Everyone will want a series with the Sox around August 15th.
He is calling it the Curse of Ben Afflack.
Soriano is the deon sanders, jeff George, bruce smith of the Nats. SHAME ON YOU RIZZO>
Aflac...The actor or the duck.
I'm with Manassas. I'm going to believe that they can recover from today and finish strong. OK, not 42-0 strong, but they still have a shot at the last wild card spot.
The Key is Cincinnati. Reds have 20 more games against teams that still have skin in the game. Nats have 15 if you include KC in that picture. Even if the Reds hold their lead tonight, there is still hope.
I feel for the people who went to the game tonight. Truly, this year I've been there, done that. And for the record, I agree with everyone else here that believes Soriano is one sorry closer and has been detrimental to the bullpen and clubhouse.
I am trying to remember I was ticked at Soriano so I didnt focus, the fans booed pretty loud when Soriano walked off, right?
This year Ryan Zimmerman has been our best hitter with runners in scoring position. I realize Ramos has been excellent but he has not played more than 41 games. However, Ryan has been hurt this whole year. His shoulder injury has hampered his power at bat and his throwing and thus his range in the field. He has however played in 105 out of 120 games. Bryce Harper has been playing injured since late April and mid May when he tested the rightfield walls in Atlanta and Los Angeles and he has played in 81 games this year. Davey, has allowed himself to be talked into playing these two obviously injured players because of his loyalty and because he believes they give the Nats the best chance to win.This along with the Espinosa debacle is where Rizzo deserves the most blame.. Mr. Rizzo either couldn't or didn't try to convince Davey to play Lombardozzi more, or he didn't have a viable alternative ready on the bench or in the minors to convince Davey to rest Ryan and Bryce more . This is what Mr. Rizzo must take the blame for more than the Soriano deal. I believe that as far as obtaining Soriano goes Mr. Boras had direct talks with Mr. T. Lerner. Rizzo may not have initiated that move and with his contract up for renewing, I am not sure he wanted to go against Mr. Lerner's desire to win the championship. I don't believe that Mr. Rizzo has been able to handle the position of general manager as well as I had hoped. He hasn't been able to convince Davey, his manager, to make decisions that reflect more of Mr. Rizzo's beliefs. Mr. Rizzo wants Davey to be more hands when it comes to players. Rizzo's free agent signings and trades have failed to provide bullpen and bench help which would at least make Davey think of allowing his bench players to start often enough to keep themselves sharp. This is a major reponsibility for a general manager.and here is where he has failed.
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