tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post3593948132024731194..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Series preview: Astros at NatsMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-27685908557040435912011-09-09T20:04:58.055-04:002011-09-09T20:04:58.055-04:00Whoooosh....
Right on by...Whoooosh....<br /><br />Right on by...Soul Possession, PFB Sofahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08891662837668214475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-69802859333187398722011-09-09T17:23:29.692-04:002011-09-09T17:23:29.692-04:00Sec 3, My Sofa said...
Saw a cartoon once, long ag...Sec 3, My Sofa said...<br />Saw a cartoon once, long ago [by Phil Frank, fwiw], of two women discussing a guy sitting at a card table, who is playing cards with a beef roast. <br /><br />"I don't mind him playing with his food--it's the continual losing that gets to me."<br />--------<br /><br />NegAnon here...<br /><br />Thanks so much for that amazing joke post. I was ROFL. This site is great. I'll never get those 8 seconds back it took me to read that. What a waste...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-85940570304971593172011-09-09T16:45:27.071-04:002011-09-09T16:45:27.071-04:00Saw a cartoon once, long ago [by Phil Frank, fwiw]...Saw a cartoon once, long ago [by Phil Frank, fwiw], of two women discussing a guy sitting at a card table, who is playing cards with a beef roast. <br /><br />"I don't mind him playing with his food--it's the continual losing that gets to me."Soul Possession, PFB Sofahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08891662837668214475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-60980055241477575762011-09-09T16:40:02.658-04:002011-09-09T16:40:02.658-04:00Hope neganon finds a better site but this old fan ...<i>Hope neganon finds a better site but this old fan will stay right here. I don't always agree with everyone but its fun to read. </i><br /><br />How much you want to bet we couldn't get that lucky, and he has nowhere to go?Soul Possession, PFB Sofahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08891662837668214475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-23112298626236589332011-09-09T16:20:19.311-04:002011-09-09T16:20:19.311-04:00Steve M;
I also agree with almost all of your poi...Steve M;<br /><br />I also agree with almost all of your points and resigning Zimm tops them all, no doubt.<br /><br />I don't think we will ever have calm at the trade deadline because Rizzo has actually stockpiled some decent talent in the minors. We also have to decide what to do with LaRoche and I think the way most of the poster here have it, we play him the first half of the season and they try and make a trade moving either Morse or Marrero in.<br /><br />Hope neganon finds a better site but this old fan will stay right here. I don't always agree with everyone but its fun to read. Learned about Gomes from Flynie, learned all kind of stats from Natslady, learned a new drink from Sunshine Bobby, and some people actually read my posts and commented on them as well.<br /><br />Sun is shining, sky is blue and I am off to the park carrying my broom for a sweep over the Astros. Interesting that Desmond sits tonight but Espinosa is not at SS. I think Lombardozzi is auditioning more for the Cora role than a starting position.<br /><br />Bench next year<br />Flores<br />Lombardozzi<br />Marrero<br />Ankiel/Bernadina<br /><br />I start Werth in CF Morse in LF and I have no clue about RF<br /><br />I make that trade for a solid starter just as Steve M suggested and with Lannan #4 and Milone/Peacock/Detweiler/Gorzo #5 I am happy<br />I keep either Detwiler or Gorzo in the bullpen,<br />release Slaten(no brainer) Balestar (harder) Coffey (really hard because used right he is very useful) I will not release Burnet, I am keeping him because of what I saw last year and I think he will bounce back in a contract year. That gives us 2 lefties plus Clip & Store, HRod & Coffey - my surprise bullpen choice is R. Martin the 26 year old from the Mexican league who was lights out this year in AA. <br /><br />Go Nats!!sjm308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-69377736479439762872011-09-09T15:53:11.843-04:002011-09-09T15:53:11.843-04:00Frontline news...Rizzo steps down (forced out) aft...Frontline news...Rizzo steps down (forced out) after not getting the freedom he had in 2011 and the Lerner's start questioning his offseason moves (e.g.; DJ as Defacto manager next year, repercussions from trusting him on the Werth signing, the Willingham trade, No humility in his body...) Too many risky moves that didn't pan out.<br /><br />He'll be a great director of minor league scouting for someone else though.jeffwxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-10667421510972519822011-09-09T15:44:05.708-04:002011-09-09T15:44:05.708-04:00Lots of good comments on the managerial situation....Lots of good comments on the managerial situation. <br />I'll be keeping score of questionable moves to get the rookies in that could cost a loss(e.g.: Peacock's relief in his first MLB appearance). <br /><br />Still think the nats have the start of a pretty good bullpen next year with Clippard, Storen, Kimball and yes HRod.jeffwxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-41568149773811845322011-09-09T15:34:04.606-04:002011-09-09T15:34:04.606-04:00I have heard it said many times that a player shou...I have heard it said many times that a player should not be just handed a starting spot. But yet, it appears that Rizzo just handed Davey a starting job for next year before he actually showed he could do the job. The organization owes it to the team and the fans to do a thorough search with an open mind. If DJ is the best among competition then ok, if someone else seems like a better fit, especially someone that can go forward with the team for a few years, then we should go with a new person. I think Johnson has been given way too much autonomy without any accountability.You should not just hire the first person that pops into your mind and then hand over the keys and let them drive into a wall.baseballswaminoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-55824020318187824592011-09-09T15:23:24.973-04:002011-09-09T15:23:24.973-04:00The team isn't losing because Davey is a bad m...The team isn't losing because Davey is a bad manager, it's losing because Davey is blowing up the roster.<br /><br />It's been said before, but Rizzo didn't have many options when Riggleman didn't get on the plane. He wasn't prepared to replace Riggleman long-term right then, McLaren is Riggleman's best friend and would not accept the job for more than a few days, and the team had the momentum of an unexpected winning streak at the time. So, when Davey Johnson, already in-house, says he wants the job, how does he say no? Practically the first thing out of Davey's mouth was that the roster was pooched, so he basically went to war with the team he wished he had, instead. Now maybe that was the only sensible thing to do, but in the <i>short run</i>, it means another year of WTF.Soul Possession, PFB Sofahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08891662837668214475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-40562724581375032362011-09-09T15:19:07.026-04:002011-09-09T15:19:07.026-04:00jd said...
Steve M.
I wanted to throw an idea at...<i>jd said... <br />Steve M.<br /><br />I wanted to throw an idea at you: Say we sign Zim to a 5 year extension (+ 2 that he has left); what do you think of this trade?<br /><br />Rendon, Lombardozzi (Or Desmond), Ray for Matt Kemp? (I know you can't trade Rendon for a year but teams get around that by using the player to be named later). Who hangs up? <br /><br />September 9, 2011 2:50 PM </i><br /><br />Yes I do that deal if you can extend Kemp simultaneously. Next year is his last year before Free Agency so don't need a 1 year rental. I think he will be traded this off-season so you are on to something. <br /><br />He plays in a hitter's park but also plays in a pitcher's division. He is an elite clutch player. The fact that he is having a MVP year in a non-Contract season is huge. Also, he showed that 2010 was a fluke.Steve M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-29319593990699056332011-09-09T14:54:39.161-04:002011-09-09T14:54:39.161-04:00Mick:
"He had a heck of a lot more talent th...Mick:<br /><br />"He had a heck of a lot more talent than Riggs had and that should be a concern." <br /><br />What talent is that pray tell? Are we only talking about RZimm? Have you factored in the departure of Marquis? Espinosa's sudden offensive drop-off? The bottom line is, that with the exception of about a ten day hot streak, this has been a consistently sub-.500 team that has gotten better pitching than it expected and virtually no hitting. There is no manager in the history of baseball that would have won with this team. Riggs was obviously a placeholder. At least DJ has a pedegree. He is someone that has won, even if he isn't winning right now. I don't know if he's the long term answer, and I think that Natslady has a point when she talks about at least considering long term stability at the manager position when you're building a young team. I wonder if DJ is in this for the long term or is only willing to manage for a year or two. Who knows if he is even willing to manage that sad bunch again next year. In any event, I don't think that we would be any better off if Riggs had stayed, in other words, I don't think the Nats fall from "grace" is the manager's fault.lesatcscnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-13151054375152145142011-09-09T14:54:25.837-04:002011-09-09T14:54:25.837-04:00jd said...
SteveM.
Believe or not I agree with y...<i>jd said... <br />SteveM.<br /><br />Believe or not I agree with you on almost all of your points especially point # 4. I still think we need a short term solution in CF and you may as well use that as a fallback for the leadoff hole (Crisp for 2 years sounds pretty good to me).<br /><br />I don't know how you avoid making the trade deadline a distraction with all the rumors flying around. I think that Storen for Spann was a reasonable deal.<br /><br />You won't trade LaRoche because we are over paying him (that is unless you eat most of his salary. I think he'll be the 1st baseman next year with Morse returning to 1st in 2013.<br /><br />So far I am not buying Marrero; not bad but nothing special. <br /><br />September 9, 2011 2:42 PM </i><br /><br />Thanks. I didn't want to be redundant and put names to it but I still think Buehrle and Crisp make good candidates for this team. Crisp is a player that will be better than a Jerry Hairston in production but will be an improvement in leadoff and team speed. Crisp. I don't think he is a 7 day a week player. The A's give him 1 game off a week it seems and it has worked. <br /><br />I'm not seeing a star in Marrero although I do think he would be a good backup to LaRoche. Marrero has shown he can hit LH pitching well. What I don't like is he has followed to much of the norm on BA w/ RISP. 0-7 so far.Steve M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-81974719058362821512011-09-09T14:54:19.119-04:002011-09-09T14:54:19.119-04:00i think why we're so fed up with Davey is that...i think why we're so fed up with Davey is that he's not coaching for his job (like Riggs was) ie: winning this year. he's coaching the team to get all the young'uns ready for next year. which means taking some losses this year. although i could see his style this year being a problem if he were to be the coach next year. how do you switch up styles from one year to the next? will the players respond to that?Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12920783017558168652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-53867862900846741522011-09-09T14:50:39.692-04:002011-09-09T14:50:39.692-04:00Steve M.
I wanted to throw an idea at you: Say w...Steve M.<br /><br /> I wanted to throw an idea at you: Say we sign Zim to a 5 year extension (+ 2 that he has left); what do you think of this trade?<br /><br /> Rendon, Lombardozzi (Or Desmond), Ray for Matt Kemp? (I know you can't trade Rendon for a year but teams get around that by using the player to be named later). Who hangs up?jdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-24972436995025958872011-09-09T14:45:44.811-04:002011-09-09T14:45:44.811-04:00Steve M,
'He got better production out of th...Steve M,<br /> <br />'He got better production out of the bench and players like Nix and Hairston then I could have envisioned. The starting rotation stepped up for him and Espinosa was an All Star calibre for him.'<br /><br /> Bingo; Hairston and Nix played way over their heads and Marquis and Livo pitched way over their heads. Their lifetime numbers say that this was not sustainable.jdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-66599036094139596602011-09-09T14:43:51.083-04:002011-09-09T14:43:51.083-04:00Anonymous said...
Bo Porter? Bring back McClaren?...Anonymous said... <br />Bo Porter? Bring back McClaren? How can we live without Jim Riggleman?<br />What a joke. This board needs some new blood. Please someone direct me to a better blog or board that actually talks baseball. This is getting like facebook where some fools post every thought that pops in their head all day long. . Natslady needs a 3 post a day limit. This crap is unreadable most days. <br /><br />September 9, 2011 2:15 PM <br /><br />Cant you at least humor us with a "handle" so we dont have to call you Anon?<br /><br />What suggestions do you have for those non-worthy here.<br /><br />Have you ever been to a restaurant with a large menu? Skip over what you don't like and read what you want to.<br /><br />I do not post much however I enjoy reading most of this and I think NatsLady has some good perspective. I am sure Nationals Journal and Nats News Network needs some new visitors, try there.PAY TO PLAYnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-91025065295280077472011-09-09T14:42:07.458-04:002011-09-09T14:42:07.458-04:00SteveM.
Believe or not I agree with you on almos...SteveM.<br /><br /> Believe or not I agree with you on almost all of your points especially point # 4. I still think we need a short term solution in CF and you may as well use that as a fallback for the leadoff hole (Crisp for 2 years sounds pretty good to me).<br /><br /> I don't know how you avoid making the trade deadline a distraction with all the rumors flying around. I think that Storen for Spann was a reasonable deal.<br /><br /> You won't trade LaRoche because we are over paying him (that is unless you eat most of his salary. I think he'll be the 1st baseman next year with Morse returning to 1st in 2013.<br /><br /> So far I am not buying Marrero; not bad but nothing special.jdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-25473925459950744682011-09-09T14:36:58.689-04:002011-09-09T14:36:58.689-04:00The sky is a strange and unfamiliar shade outside ...The sky is a strange and unfamiliar shade outside in downtown DC -- it's been so long since we've seen the color that I've forgotten its name .... "blue" maybe. Could we actually play a game tonight without rain?Section 222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-57743940224652870162011-09-09T14:31:30.303-04:002011-09-09T14:31:30.303-04:00jd said...
I think that the winning streak in Jun...<i>jd said... <br />I think that the winning streak in June was a mirage. It happens once in a while. This team was never good enough to play .500 and it would have slipped back under Riggleman as well.<br /><br />September 9, 2011 2:18 PM </i><br /><br />You don't know that but are entitled to your opinion.<br /><br />Don't they say you are never as good as you are during a winning streak?<br /><br />You still take the winning streaks when you have them because they balance out the losing streaks.<br /><br />This team was never a pla..play...playoff team but they could have been a 82-80 team. I still believe that Riggleman did a good enough job to play to the team strengths. He got better production out of the bench and players like Nix and Hairston then I could have envisioned. The starting rotation stepped up for him and Espinosa was an All Star calibre for him.Steve M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-43070955668892279192011-09-09T14:22:39.469-04:002011-09-09T14:22:39.469-04:00Mark'd / CBinDC - What would I change going f...Mark'd / CBinDC - What would I change going forward:<br /><br />1) #1 priority is signing Ryan Zimmerman to an extension as soon as possible. His situation has to be resolved now as he goes into 2012 as a "short term" player. Rendon's future with this team is largely predicated by Zim's future.<br /><br />2) Extend Michael Morse also. He has earned it.<br /><br />3) Get a solid upgrade at #3 in the rotation from the Free Agent market. Clearly you have a great 1-2 in JZim & Stras. Lannan needs to be a #4 on this team and the Manager can then have the remaining internal candidates battle it out for the #5<br /><br />4) The team needs to find a short-term answer for leadoff as a good stop gap. If Desmond turns out to be the answer at lead-off, great then you have a situation of an extra player! Just don't go into 2012 thinking Desmond is the solution.<br /><br />5) Blow up the bullpen and start over. Don't keep Burnett just because he is under contract for 2012<br /><br />6) Make sure all the pitchers can lay down a sacrifice as well as JZim and Livo. I think Strasburg is sound. Lannan and Detwiler don't look comfortable.<br /><br />7) Don't make another trade deadline a distraction to the team. <br /><br />8) Don't make off-season trades for the sake of making trades. I could see Rizzo trading LaRoche because he becomes short-term so only do it if you get an overwhelmingly great deal.<br /><br />9) Pick a Manager who will be here for the long-term with a philosophy that matches the core personnel you haveSteve M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-62870414399362418122011-09-09T14:18:43.586-04:002011-09-09T14:18:43.586-04:00Mark'd / CBinDC - I don't agree that they ...Mark'd / CBinDC - I don't agree that they are pervasive losers. It is continual improvement and a need to never give up. The team could use a few more high energy pieces. I said many times the team had to shake it up and DFA Stairs and bring in some youth. Espinosa of 2010 September is that type of player who energized the team in the short-term. <br /><br />To further my points up above on Complete Games, the Atlanta Braves have only had 3 complete games this year and 2 by Jurjjens and 1 by Hudson and the San Fran Giants have had 3 complete games. Arizona DBacks have had 4 and Milwaukee has had only 1. So that gives you an idea of the playoff type of teams. Philadelphia skews the league average to 4. There are so many other factors of what CB calls the <b>constant pervasive culture of losing </b>.<br /><br />A constant pervasive culture of losing is an interesting phrase. One person here this week called the rest of the season "meaningless" and I debated him on the use of that term. Clearly among a few posters here, they are more accepting than I, in losing.<br /><br />Mostly looking in hindsight, I could name a few things that would have changed this team for the better from the start.<br /><br />1) The Nyjer debacle. Rizzo went into 2011 with no leadoff alternative and suffered in low OBP from the leadoff. 2 years in a row made a Spring Training move in the outfield that left a gaping hole<br /><br />2) Putting Matt Stairs (Stares) on the Opening Day roster. It was counter-intuitive to even his own definition of an "athletic" team<br /><br />3) Stuck with a bad bullpen to where I have estimated 7 to 12 losses cumulatively. Risk didn't pay off with Rule 5 Broderick. Slaten has been a disaster. Burnett has the worst reliever rating in the MLB. To make it worse Coffey and Clippard went through many stretches of over-use. HenRod has been too inconsistent to carry on a MLB roster.<br /><br />4) Rizzo took too long to make changes. The Nats were the last team in the MLB to DFA a player without options. Hard to believe Slaten is back on the roster which tells you Rizzo's thinking on some players. Stairs wasn't DFA'd until Davey took over. It was no secret how Riggleman felt about Stairs to the point where he just stopped using him. It is difficult enough playing with 25 men let alone 24.<br /><br />5) Rizzo allowed the trade deadline to become a distraction. It seemed to demoralize players on the bubble instead. It was around July 19th that the team started to slip. That was the last time the team saw a .500 record<br /><br />6) The team got away from the small ball/smart ball philosphy and playing for the extra run. Under Davey, the team is behind Riggleman's pace by only .1 per game. The close games are turning to close losses under Davey. Davey is a big inning type of guy. The change in philosphy seems to have hurt.<br /><br />7) I said my peace early on about Wang. It didn't make much sense then and not much sense now. It is all about risk/reward and this had too much risk. I believe it sent the wrong signal to a team that was already struggling and under stress over the trade deadline to have a reclamation project pitching in games that count.<br /><br />8) I still believe Rizzo since Kasten left has a lot to learn about trading. The Willingham trade, Nyjer, AGonz, etc, luckily Rizzo at the trade deadline did a "Just Say No".Steve M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-81863393954663835232011-09-09T14:18:19.176-04:002011-09-09T14:18:19.176-04:00I think that the winning streak in June was a mira...I think that the winning streak in June was a mirage. It happens once in a while. This team was never good enough to play .500 and it would have slipped back under Riggleman as well.<br /><br /> I think that debating managerial moves is fair game on these threads but calling out moves with allowing for the possibility that one may just be wrong is presumptuous at best.jdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-86227694238330920772011-09-09T14:15:18.261-04:002011-09-09T14:15:18.261-04:00Bo Porter? Bring back McClaren? How can we live ...Bo Porter? Bring back McClaren? How can we live without Jim Riggleman?<br />What a joke. This board needs some new blood. Please someone direct me to a better blog or board that actually talks baseball. This is getting like facebook where some fools post every thought that pops in their head all day long. . Natslady needs a 3 post a day limit. This crap is unreadable most days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-3807081630061521752011-09-09T14:13:09.311-04:002011-09-09T14:13:09.311-04:00JaneB,
How do we know that Porter is a good mana...JaneB,<br /><br /> How do we know that Porter is a good manager?jdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-9011965573831461702011-09-09T14:08:58.047-04:002011-09-09T14:08:58.047-04:00Mick,
Agreed that Davey's not made himself in...Mick,<br /><br />Agreed that Davey's not made himself indispensable in his time on the job, but I just chose a longwinded way of saying put me in the camp that this season is too small a sample size to condemn someone with his career achievement. As well, I believe this team has turned in some epic late season collapses before, under Riggs and others, so I don't know that it's fair to assume we'd continue on .500 pace had Riggs not lost it and quit.CBMGillnoreply@blogger.com