tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post6736995325746711296..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Dog days? Not for these 5 NatsMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-81197628685641227852010-08-10T14:39:34.052-04:002010-08-10T14:39:34.052-04:00uh, no. Didn't even audition for one.uh, no. Didn't even audition for one.natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-43805076715564221952010-08-10T13:58:18.701-04:002010-08-10T13:58:18.701-04:00Hey 1a, weren't you on a "My Nats Moment&...Hey 1a, weren't you on a "My Nats Moment" commercial?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-89149824785809459772010-08-10T12:03:54.988-04:002010-08-10T12:03:54.988-04:00Nats320. D'Oh!Nats320. D'Oh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-68423700781355009362010-08-10T11:30:10.066-04:002010-08-10T11:30:10.066-04:00Eh, not so much. You may need to work on your voca...Eh, not so much. You may need to work on your vocabulary skills a bit, Anon.<br /><br />While you're at it, you might also want to look up "fan."<br /><br />---<br /><br />syc·o·phant (sk-fnt, sk-)<br />n.<br />A servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people.natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-43985178763730709712010-08-10T10:45:25.509-04:002010-08-10T10:45:25.509-04:00Sad how 75 wins is a cause for celebration in DC. ...Sad how 75 wins is a cause for celebration in DC. This team stinks and is providing the fanbase with the play that it is able to give, nothing more, nothing less. Oh there are parts to this team which are nice impact pieces (Strasburg and Zimmerman) but not enough of them to make a difference. And honestly, there are not too many nice pieces in the pipeline for next year or the years beyond (let's see if ALL the draft picks with high ceilings get signed). But let's ignore the talent issues this franchise has, shield our eyes, and break out the champagne! The Nats might win 75 games! Woohoo! A toast to the Lerners and their amazing stewardship. And then in the off-season we can hear the sycophants all praise some washed up veteran as the next Babe Ruth that will get one more season out of his tired bones and is going to push the franchise to 81 wins. Pass out the bubbly, we just got Doug Mientkiewicz as our new 1st baseman! He was a vacuum at 1st base for the 2004 Red Sox. He's way better than Adam (is) Dunn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-39201448297282192312010-08-10T10:15:51.614-04:002010-08-10T10:15:51.614-04:00I want to see the team finish with more than 70 wi...I want to see the team finish with more than 70 wins and that is certainly very possible. Getting to 75 wins would be a stretch but it could happen and I would certainly celebrate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-60603294974134679592010-08-10T09:44:56.044-04:002010-08-10T09:44:56.044-04:00Another possible factor: 18 of the remaining 21 ro...Another possible factor: 18 of the remaining 21 road games are vs. the NL East (against whom the Nats are 20-19, as previously noted).<br /><br />---<br /><br />NatsJack in Florida said...<br /><br /> Hey Anon! If they play the exact same percentages at home and away they'll end up winning 23 more games.... Wow...sounds almost impossible, doesn't it.<br /><br /> I for one think 25 more wins is highly attainable.<br /> August 10, 2010 8:07 AMnatsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-61542017738607602862010-08-10T08:28:57.326-04:002010-08-10T08:28:57.326-04:00Looking at the 40 man roster I see about 15 spots ...Looking at the 40 man roster I see about 15 spots that should be freed up soon. Amazing how week that list is. Balister, Kennedy, Harrris, Neives, Wang, Walker, Maldonado, Mench, ...just to name the no brain moves that should be made as soon as the season is over....A whole second list is easy to spot of Chico, Maxwell types that are just not helping develop this system into a pipeline for a winning team. <br /><br />LOTS of work ahead for Mr. Rizzo.....No excuse for doing nothing this off season.JayBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11448827055342357809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-39497739834221117872010-08-10T08:07:29.957-04:002010-08-10T08:07:29.957-04:00Hey Anon! If they play the exact same percentages ...Hey Anon! If they play the exact same percentages at home and away they'll end up winning 23 more games.... Wow...sounds almost impossible, doesn't it.<br /><br />I for one think 25 more wins is highly attainable.NatsJack in Floridanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-35505431285496023732010-08-10T00:31:29.456-04:002010-08-10T00:31:29.456-04:00They have yet to win 50 games. Winning another 20-...They have yet to win 50 games. Winning another 20-25 is going to be quite a chore for this team.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-81919459625627702052010-08-09T23:05:15.022-04:002010-08-09T23:05:15.022-04:00The only bad thing about a strong finish is that i...The only bad thing about a strong finish is that it would make it more likely that Riggleman is back next year.Feel Woodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-88644654400689512382010-08-09T22:36:53.880-04:002010-08-09T22:36:53.880-04:00Thanks for the responses, guys. Anon @ 7:45, I did...Thanks for the responses, guys. Anon @ 7:45, I didn't figure on either the playoffs or finishing at .500. However, a strong finish would be good, as noted by Anon @ 8:16 and David. Of course, I'd be happy with 75 wins, too (though I'm not sure they'll end up there)!natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-23419603547825483912010-08-09T20:16:36.020-04:002010-08-09T20:16:36.020-04:00@natsfan1a
You are correct that the Nats are a mu...@natsfan1a<br /><br />You are correct that the Nats are a much better team at home, most teams are but usually not as much a difference as this team is. The Nats have not had any winning steak over 3 games this year, very strange. Last years team which was much less talented had an 8 game wining streak. The team's ERA is .9 runs less and is now the league average which is quite an improvement. This team is actually scoring few runs per game (4.10 vs 4.38) than last year and Zimmerman, Dunn, and Willingham are all having better years. Fielding pct. has also gotten worse .979 vs .984. I think the fielding and OBP decrease by many of the other player who have been in the line-up are the key factors that are holding this team back. When JZ and Maya and Ramos come up in September/October I think we just might see a team that would have gone 13-16 at best go 17-12. As for Espinosa TimDZ has it correct Rizzo does not have a 40 man spot available, in fact I think that after the season the Nationals will probably drop 10 players from their 40 man roster.Tegwarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05014621891563545863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-76062630963896021902010-08-09T20:16:27.736-04:002010-08-09T20:16:27.736-04:00natsfan1a,
There is indeed some impetus for your ...natsfan1a,<br /><br />There is indeed some impetus for your perspective.<br /><br />There is the home games in September, plus the competition for a spot in the top 3-4 in the rotation suddenly heats up. Jordan Zimmermann finally makes an appearance along with, hopefully, Yunieski Maya. <br /><br />Mike Rizzo's creed is that competition breeds better performance. Guess we'll find out if he's right. <br /><br />Because in September you'll have Strasburg, Zimmermann, Maya, Olsen, Marquis, Lannan, Stammen, Livan Hernandez all competing to show they belong in the rotation next year. <br /><br />Plus the position players will be trying to create a strong impression ... hopefully, the errors will diminish and decline? The offense will pick up; perhaps ever more strongly if Dunn gets signed during this period?<br /><br />This would also serve to send a message to the rest of baseball that the Nats are coming on ... <br /><br />I guess we can hope?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-32793757907429070092010-08-09T20:04:09.107-04:002010-08-09T20:04:09.107-04:00I'm just happy that we are no longer the worst...I'm just happy that we are no longer the worst team in baseball. To me, anything above that is a bonus. Contention next year!LoveDaNatsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-53086531247110996372010-08-09T19:46:08.183-04:002010-08-09T19:46:08.183-04:00natsfan,
It depends what your conclusion is; if y...natsfan,<br /><br />It depends what your conclusion is; if you propose that the Nats contend for the playoffs then yes you are; if you feel that they can work their way back and finish at .500 then you are wildly optimistic.I think that 75 wins would be a nice achievement and excellent progress from last year on the way to respectability next year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-32412900620327062382010-08-09T19:05:00.370-04:002010-08-09T19:05:00.370-04:00Speaking of the next two months, call me a wacky o...Speaking of the next two months, call me a wacky optimist but I wonder whether our guys might be due for a prolonged hot (or at least warm) streak. Now, I'm not a real big stat person, but here's the cipherin' behind my flight of fancy: 29 of the remaining 50 games are at home, where the Nats are 29-23, as opposed to 20-40 on the road (sigh). Further, 33 of their remaining games are vs. the NL East, against which they are 20-19. So am I delusional, or what? (Let me down easy, now.)natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-12710754517394008902010-08-09T18:13:12.029-04:002010-08-09T18:13:12.029-04:00I'm pulling for Morse to continue to play well...I'm pulling for Morse to continue to play well defensively. That grand slam saving catch on Saturday was great, and he had a whole ton of chances that night that he handled well. He's never going to be Maxwell defensively, but if he keeps hitting and isn't horrible in the field, maybe he could nail down a starting position, putting the nail in the coffin of the Nyjer experiment. Yeah, I know, dream on.<br /><br />I'm not so sure that these next two months are as key for Storen as for, say, Lannan, or even Tyler Clippard. Storen is well ahead of schedule moving into the closer role. Remember, he was only destined for a setup role this year, at best. He'll get a shot at taking over as closer next year, almost regardless of what happens in August and September. Clippard on the other hand, has something to prove if he's not going to be permanently marked as a mopup guy. It's a shame that Riggs overused him so much early in the year. I'm convinced that's what's behind his recent troubles. <br /><br />Finally, much as I've liked Gonzo's play this year, I don't think he's in the mix at all as a potential starter. He had that chance a few years back (remember when he and Bonifacio were our DP combo of the future?). He's always going to be a utility guy, and let's just hope he can continue to play that role well.Section 222https://www.blogger.com/profile/17106128453333996193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-38748430162905987982010-08-09T17:15:41.478-04:002010-08-09T17:15:41.478-04:00Mark, surely Rizzo has some say in which players s...Mark, surely Rizzo has some say in which players start. After all, Rizzo is Riggleman's boss and has the power to fire him. It might not be as straightforward as Rizzo passing Riggleman the lineup card before the game, but there has to be some sort of communication between Rizzo and Riggs about what Rizzo expects of newly promoted players/players coming off the DL, right?Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01902355704452340677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-70900766364364770012010-08-09T17:05:24.703-04:002010-08-09T17:05:24.703-04:00@ Sam: I looked at his stats in the minors, but I ...@ Sam: I looked at his stats in the minors, but I must confess that it was hard to incorporate them into his current performance. He has never played regularly, even in the minors.<br /><br />I also think that he's a better hitter currently than he was in the minors. He's more focused and more prepared for what he's going to see in the batter's box. Given that pitchers in the majors tend to have better control than pitchers in the minors, issues of focus are more easily accomplished.<br /><br />He's also probably getting better coaching. The way he adjusted his wrists for the HR he hit off of Lilly demonstrates, to me at least, a sophisicated batting approach--it certainly impressed Lilly. Off the sinker baller throwing on Saturday, he was one of the few Nats batters to hit fly balls, when most everybody else was hitting the expected grounders. He hits low inside pitches that only Zim gets to with some power consistency.<br /><br />Morse should get better, with more confidence. The current stats, as Mark has pointed out, suggest that he's up there with Dunn and Zim. In time, it might be proven that he's a better hitter than The Hammer. <br /><br />Time will tell, but Morse needs to be given a chance. I'm guessing that there's a few scouts from other teams lookin' at him. I'll bet the Cubies have him on their radar.Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614998804163989623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-35314519703771932010-08-09T17:03:02.763-04:002010-08-09T17:03:02.763-04:00yeah, count me in the camp that it's not reall...yeah, count me in the camp that it's not really legit to extrapolate full-season numbers from 114 ABs in part-time duty. when guys play part time, managers generally are playing them in what are advantageous situations. <br /><br />some players will thrive more in part-time roles, some players will thrive more in full-time roles. while it's generally the latter for the better players, guys who've been fringe players for a while (like morse) don't always play as well when they're playing every day.<br /><br />i'm rooting for the guy. if he hits and doesn't suck defensively, that's a big plus for the team. but i'm not ready to extrapolate 114 ABs into a full-season and say "he'd be at 28 now on the way to 40." that's getting a wee bit ahead of yourself.greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13848419973469239512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-48422029557391578122010-08-09T16:58:49.068-04:002010-08-09T16:58:49.068-04:00@NatsJack in Florida...Espinosa has already played...@NatsJack in Florida...Espinosa has already played in the AFL, so I do not think he will be going back this year.markfdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-35502390631115232512010-08-09T16:48:36.227-04:002010-08-09T16:48:36.227-04:00Re bringing Espinosa up in September, someone here...Re bringing Espinosa up in September, someone here said that that would cost the Nats some future control of the player per the collective bargining agreement. If so, it doesn't seem worth it. <br /><br />He's not on the 40 man and doesn't need to be protected (rule 5 draft) until the end of the 2011 season. As it appears, Rizzo has some tough choices to make (regarding who should be exposed to the rule 5 draft) this year and placing Espinosa on the 40 man now would just be one less spot on the 40 man that Rizzo would have to play with.TimDznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-64252842402647613582010-08-09T16:34:30.400-04:002010-08-09T16:34:30.400-04:00but he will not become an eerday fixture as some w...<i>but he will not become an eerday fixture as some would have you believe.</i><br /><br />We'll see ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-18975447276250354582010-08-09T16:30:25.156-04:002010-08-09T16:30:25.156-04:00Re bringing Espinosa up in September, someone here...<i>Re bringing Espinosa up in September, someone here said that that would cost the Nats some future control of the player per the collective bargining agreement. If so, it doesn't seem worth it.</i><br /><br />The Nats current player development believes that a player will tell them when he is ready to come to the big leagues. If Espinosa looks ready they will give him the next bar to hurdle. They have already stated he is major league ready defensively. Its now down to his offense as a switch hitter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com