tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post6310608987703115370..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Errors of aggression, or trying too hard?Mark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-29684708328365780692011-04-06T12:44:26.452-04:002011-04-06T12:44:26.452-04:00Anon 12:15, you have no notion of what the purpose...Anon 12:15, you have no notion of what the purpose of a double switch is.<br />The previous inning ended with ramos at bat (#7). So #8 (Cora) and #1 (Hairston) are definitely due up in the next inning. Therefore, double switching out one of those two makes no sense.Sunderlandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-33864489687547159522011-04-06T12:32:52.926-04:002011-04-06T12:32:52.926-04:00Riggs should go for a quintuple switch. Put Nix i...Riggs should go for a quintuple switch. Put Nix in RF for LaRoche, put Stairs in at centerfield for Werth, put Rodriguez at first for Zimmerman, have Ankiel switch from center to pitcher, put Hairston in the pitcher's spot and play third base. That would shock the enemy.The Jokernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-46445903220970009802011-04-06T12:15:58.123-04:002011-04-06T12:15:58.123-04:00I can see the argument for leaving in Marquis, but...<i>I can see the argument for leaving in Marquis, but as for pulling Morse I have no problem with that. Morse's defense is still not great, and he hasn't shown much at the plate to make his bat missed. </i><br /><br />Over Cora? Over Hairston? And even Ankiel? Notorious weak bats? And they aren't all that great in the field. Hairston looked terrible in center in the spring? <br /><br />Why not double switch Cora out for Espinosa? Or Ankiel for Hairston?<br /><br />Like any other player Morse needs to see pitches, needs at bats to get going ... he started off slow last year and picked it up as he went forward.<br /><br />And Desmond? Why does Desmond and Espinosa need a rest? Riggleman is an idiot. With him in charge I'd rather see Lombardozzi up in the majors and double switched in because they are going to lose 100 anyway as long as Riggleman is in charge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-5778495127869641662011-04-06T12:13:46.533-04:002011-04-06T12:13:46.533-04:00Got it, got it, got it.....woopsGot it, got it, got it.....woopsJ Werthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-83677956210063414932011-04-06T11:56:39.857-04:002011-04-06T11:56:39.857-04:00Jayson Werth is a very good defensive right fielde...Jayson Werth is a very good defensive right fielder. Don't be ridiculous. Get off the ledge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-20460898000465600702011-04-06T11:44:31.416-04:002011-04-06T11:44:31.416-04:00Jayson Werth is confirming all of my fears, he is ...Jayson Werth is confirming all of my fears, he is a great bat to have in the lineup but is a horrendous RF, so basically we have Adam Dunn minus 20 HRs in RF! :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-26523700784144643712011-04-06T11:39:48.040-04:002011-04-06T11:39:48.040-04:00It's Riggleman, as I have been saying for two ...It's Riggleman, as I have been saying for two years. The dim-witted, not-quite-good-enough-for-little-league "manager" is 165 games under .500 for his non-illustrious career -- and counting. The more perceptive of you have seen this coming: more losses than last year. The only net plus over the winter (and too late, at that) was ridding the team of N. Morgan. Get rid of Riggleman (Valentine is the obvious choice), but get rid of Rizzo, too, whose man Riggleman is.NatsFan2005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-55361758704719598712011-04-06T11:32:08.548-04:002011-04-06T11:32:08.548-04:00The problem so far, plain and simple, is lack of h...The problem so far, plain and simple, is lack of hitting (esp. with risp). In our three losses we have scored only 2 runs each. Unacceptable. Some of these fielding miscues are more glaring because of that lack of hitting. Even good teams make errors. The difference is, when the Yankees or Phillies do it, it doesn't matter because they are still up 7-4 anyways. <br /><br />Not much real criticism of it yet, but batting Werth 2nd is a mistake. Werth has 3 doubles so far and 0 RBIs to show for it. Ankiel or Espinosa should have been hitting 2nd all along and Werth would have at least 3 RBIs by now. Not having a legit cleanup hitter is worse than not having a legit #2 hitter. You solved the latter problem by creating the former. LaRoche is not consistent enough to hit 4.Jaxpo Natnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-60229498464089251572011-04-06T11:21:27.043-04:002011-04-06T11:21:27.043-04:00Morse didn't help his case last night with tha...Morse didn't help his case last night with that strikeout that put him on his knees after flailing wildly. He's still not a great defender. I can see the argument for leaving in Marquis, but as for pulling Morse I have no problem with that. Morse's defense is still not great, and he hasn't shown much at the plate to make his bat missed. <br /><br />Riggleman brought in Espinosa who is actually hitting in real (non-Spring Training) games, so it's not like last year's moves to swap in Justin Maxwell and Superwillie. We have a better defense this year in general (if they actually play to their own standards) so the double switches should be more sensible. I hope.Ernienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-71336768811856459302011-04-06T11:20:39.676-04:002011-04-06T11:20:39.676-04:00I have stated many times on various blogs over the...I have stated many times on various blogs over the past four years that the Nats need to hire a kick ass manager. The Orioles finally got it right even though they had to pay market price to get a good manager. The Nats fired one milque toast manager (Manny Acta), only to replace him by another one. Riggleman is pathetic and clueless. Post game, he spends all his time making excuses for the team's pathetic performance while praising the opposition for a job well done. Riggleman is here because he works on the cheap and because he's easy to manipulate. Both of those qualities are necessary if one wants to work for the Lerners.phil dunnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-39708475776166776942011-04-06T11:17:25.309-04:002011-04-06T11:17:25.309-04:00Peyton Dowdy and Feelwood, you guys are carrying t...Peyton Dowdy and Feelwood, you guys are carrying the ball for me today, thanks. Riggleman says he wants starters to go 7+, but if they put a runner on base anytime after 5 they're coming out. It's just stupid and it is impossible to build a winning team like this.<br /><br />The decision to pull Marquis was bad. Once the decision was made, the double switch was fine. The only 2 choices were Morse and Ankiel. Ankiel is a better defender, and a left handed bat to face the right handed Nunez who Riggleman guessed (correctly) would pitch the ninth.<br />The decision to DS was bad (IMO) but the execution of the DS was fine.Sunderlandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-26564684040172264432011-04-06T11:01:46.642-04:002011-04-06T11:01:46.642-04:00Hire Bobby Valentine before its too late.Hire Bobby Valentine before its too late.JoeGishnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-21698839288231174082011-04-06T10:59:39.318-04:002011-04-06T10:59:39.318-04:00This game was lost once Riggleman double-switched ...This game was lost once Riggleman double-switched Marquis and Morse out of the game. Marquis is a veteran pitcher and has been in worse "jams" than last night. <br /><br />Bottom of the 7th, you are up 2-1, a runner on 3rd with one out and a pinch-hitter coming up, and your starting pitcher is at 78 pitches? You absolutely do not take your SP out of the game? Especially if your SP is a ground ball pitcher. What's the worst that could have happened? The pinch-hitter gets either a hit or a sac fly and the game is tied. Guess what? That's exactly what happened when he brought in Clippard. Now he's wasted one reliever and oh yeah, he's also taken out his #5 hitter.<br /><br />'But Marquis' spot is due up second in the top of the 8th' you say? So what! If Cora leads off the 8th with a hit or walk, Marquis is more than capable enough to bunt him over -- which would save you one pinch-hitter. What if Cora makes an out? Then you can decide to either let Marquis hit (he did have one hit already -- more than Desmond has had all season), or then you can pinch-hit for him.<br /><br />If you still think it was right to take Marquis out and do the double switch, then why take out Morse? He didn't make the last out in the top of the inning (that was the #7 batter, Ramos and there's no way you should take him out). So why not take Ankiel out instead? He was the #6 hitter, hasn't done much except for his one HR, and he could easily have been replaced by Laynce Nix in CF, or if you still want to bring in Espinosa you could then move Hairston into CF for the last 2 innings. <br /><br />Sorry for the long rant, but man I was ticked off last night.erocks33noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-24774951545034390052011-04-06T10:50:32.323-04:002011-04-06T10:50:32.323-04:00Clippard is also a strikeout pitcher. 112 Ks, 91 ...Clippard is also a strikeout pitcher. 112 Ks, 91 innings (something like that). Marquis is not.Theophilusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-53483935027662049732011-04-06T10:26:26.095-04:002011-04-06T10:26:26.095-04:00Theophilus, Marquis is a groundball pitcher, Clipp...Theophilus, Marquis is a groundball pitcher, Clippard is not. Marquis with a runner on 3rd is more likely to induce a grounder to 3rd or 1st or maybe even a comebacker than Clipp is. My whole argument though is Riggs burned Clipp and Storen last night to the extent where neither are available today. If you let Marquis pitch out of the 7th, the result probably would have been similar to Clipp allowing the inherited runner to score, then Clipp only pitches one inning and is an option late in the game today if we need him. <br /><br />He talked about overusing the pen last year and already Storen, Clippard and Burnett have been pitched in 3 games out of 4 and Livan and Marquis haven't even gone over 80 pitches and neither was in a true jam or in danger of letting the game get out of hand when they were pulled.PDowdy83https://www.blogger.com/profile/11914833357697907700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-39046103915241637432011-04-06T10:20:15.542-04:002011-04-06T10:20:15.542-04:00Riggleman should have left him in last night. A go...<i>Riggleman should have left him in last night. A good manager would have.</i><br /><br />Its not about removing the pitcher its more about ensuring Riggleman's washed up, over-the-hill software players get 300 at bats. You need to double-switch Morse out as soon as possible ... even after he hits a couple of homers in the game.<br /><br />Nothing, absolutely nothing has changed from last year ... the only difference is the record will be worst because there's no Dunn and Willingham.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-18930952910148962292011-04-06T10:16:40.210-04:002011-04-06T10:16:40.210-04:00Theophilus the complaints about Riggleman's cr...Theophilus the complaints about Riggleman's cronyism inspired hooks are SPOT ON. <br /><br />He yanks Morse for a double switch ... one of this squad's only true offensive weapons ... in a 2 - 1 game for? Hairston??? Ankiel??? Cora??? They remain in the game while Desmond remains on the bench? Espinosa comes in too late to be effective and he replaces Morse???<br /><br />HORSE HOCKEY!!! My god they should have just kept Willie Harris and Cristian Guzman because these guys aren't an improvement ...its the same old defer to the veterans taking away reps and at bats needed to develop young players .... yes Mike Rizzo YOU are delusional when you say Riggleman won't affect the development of young players with this approach.<br /><br />FJB is spot on with his comments relative to Rizzo's excuses which I believe cover up Riggleman decisions. <br /><br />FIJ: Fire Interim Jim today!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-62168041429032140412011-04-06T10:14:49.983-04:002011-04-06T10:14:49.983-04:00Marquis wasn't "about to come apart"...Marquis wasn't "about to come apart" last night. He had only thrown 78 pitchas all night. Not even one walk. He was throwing strikes and hitting his spots. And while he may not be Maddux, Smoltz or Glavine, he's somehow managed to win 96 big league games against only 92 losses in his career. He probably had to work his way out of jams worse than the one he faced last night to pick up a few of those wins, I'd bet. Riggleman should have left him in last night. A good manager would have.Feel Woodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-43938362440860885012011-04-06T09:57:11.666-04:002011-04-06T09:57:11.666-04:00The complaints about Riggleman's "hook&qu...The complaints about Riggleman's "hook" are off the mark. By and large, the Nats starting pitchers are not good enough to get themselves off the hook in late inning jams, going around the batting order the third or fourth time. What do you suppose Marquis's BAA is in such situations? Probably around .300. <br /><br />The whiners complain that not using Stairs in the 7th is a "waste;" then what is it if you don't use Clippard in the 7th? Someday, when you've got Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine and Avery or the equivalent in the rotation, you'll have a right to complain about pulling a pitcher who looks like he might be about to come apart. Until then, it's Riggleman's job to get the most out of the available parts.<br /><br />If Werth makes up his mind to run over Espinosa on the way to that pop up, John J. McGraw, Gene Mauch and Tony LaRussa aren't going to win that game either.Theophilusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-10150554800623004242011-04-06T09:25:18.049-04:002011-04-06T09:25:18.049-04:00I get the griping about benching the middle infiel...I get the griping about benching the middle infield in the same game, and I don't think it made sense either. That said, I don't think it had much of an impact on the outcome last night. If anything it made me feel comfortable with these guys as back-ups. The defense up the middle looked professional to me. The baserunning gaffe is on Porter. The errors were on Zimmerman and Werth, and Zimmerman's was ultimately meaningless.<br /><br />The problems were a mental mistake in the outfield, a baserunning error where the runner was actually doing what he is told to do, which is obey the coach's signs, and batting with RISP. I'm not a big Riggleman fan but I see little reason to pin the blame on him.Ernienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-50181724384393771352011-04-06T09:22:36.829-04:002011-04-06T09:22:36.829-04:00@Jimmy re: Riggleman
"He is at best a Little ...@Jimmy re: Riggleman<br />"He is at best a Little League Manager with the mandatory playing rule."<br /><br />That is seriously funny: with all the double switches, he can easily get the mandatory 1AB and 6 consecutive outs!joemktgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-7596645249866137132011-04-06T09:19:03.511-04:002011-04-06T09:19:03.511-04:00Riggs only got the job because he was cheap....so ...Riggs only got the job because he was cheap....so if he did earn his pay it would not get you much. Porter would kick some butt....June 15 is the day as I see it.JayBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11448827055342357809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-19109919014240428942011-04-06T09:18:50.429-04:002011-04-06T09:18:50.429-04:00Looks like the Nats are like the Bad News Bears. ...Looks like the Nats are like the Bad News Bears. Come up and watch a real team up at Camden Yards.P Angelosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-68873974590304692002011-04-06T09:12:31.014-04:002011-04-06T09:12:31.014-04:00And if the desire is to keep Hairston and Cora &qu...And if the desire is to keep Hairston and Cora "fresh", I submit that their expiration date has long since expired and that's why they've become veteran "role" players. They are here to play a role, not start.NatsJack in Floridanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-32966039467238387412011-04-06T09:10:38.515-04:002011-04-06T09:10:38.515-04:00They may be 1-3, but I see them playing much bette...They may be 1-3, but I see them playing much better than in past years. We are one turn through the rotation and they have gotten great starting pitching. Generally speaking, the defense is better. If that holds though the year, this team will win a good amount of games. The problem right now is hitting with RISP. There is a degree of luck involved there, and so they should revert to the mean on those chances. Morse and Laroche haven't started hitting yet.<br /><br />The danger is what joemktg alluded to: these guys are trying very hard to make something happen; the longer things go without seeing results, the more chance they become defeatist mentally. This is where Riggs needs to earn his pay.Wallynoreply@blogger.com