tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post7958179559384966947..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: That other 1st round pickMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-32026065172345219752010-06-14T17:03:27.444-04:002010-06-14T17:03:27.444-04:00With the success of storen, clippard and capps in ...With the success of storen, clippard and capps in the bullpen, let's not forget Slaten who has been quietly effective.nats risingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-55750481189461126072010-06-14T16:23:43.754-04:002010-06-14T16:23:43.754-04:00update on tix: Tickets.com did call me on behalf...update on tix: Tickets.com did call me on behalf of the Nats...two reserved outfield for $26 and a nine dollar service charge. For nine I can take a cab to the stadium and but my tix and have change leftover.bobnhttp://aol.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-29795130190122729562010-06-14T15:13:37.521-04:002010-06-14T15:13:37.521-04:00Certainly in agreement there. And we need look no...Certainly in agreement there. And we need look no further than the number of save opportunities that Capps has had to tell us in plain English that the top arms in the pen have been delivering/perserving leads. With the run differential the Nats are sporting (278 scored to 298 against, or -19) your point is all the more important.<br /><br />Just as a sidenote, every other team in the NL East is at least +19 -- the Braves are +61, best in the NL.Big Oilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-26395328825482869442010-06-14T15:02:45.437-04:002010-06-14T15:02:45.437-04:00And I've always tried to explain to the less b...And I've always tried to explain to the less baseball educated that a great closer is only as good as the "bridge" (i.e. Clippard/Storen)that gets him in the game.<br /><br />That's why its either a solid bullpen or a shaky bullpen (last year). It takes several quality arms with a good mental make up to be a formidable pen and it appears we have it.<br /><br />Just didn't want to dimiinish a great closer like Mariano.NatsJack in Floridanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-37578467008476767882010-06-14T14:51:36.794-04:002010-06-14T14:51:36.794-04:00@NatsJack:
I'll be patient, because maybe the...@NatsJack:<br /><br />I'll be patient, because maybe the idea was lost in the density of the comment. <br /><br />Relief aces are most certainly not overrated. However, the idea of a closer as your best pitcher having to pitch in the 9th all the time is not always in line with deploying your most reliable bullpen asset at a juncture where the game hangs in the balance. Was it really all that difficult to understand that my comment is directed at the closer idea rather than the pitchers themselves? If so, I am happy to point in the direction of studies that support my point. <br /><br />Noone argues that Rivera is a stud. And, yes, he locks down 9th innings. But with the bases loaded in the 7th inning and up one run, would you rather trot Damaso Marte/Chad Gaudin out there or Mo? This is why I think the Nats have a good thing going -- because our two stud relievers ARE working high leverage situations. Capps can manage the 9th, but I feel many more times comfortable with Storen/Clippard working the situation described above. Hence, the idea that we have to have some lights-out closer is misplaced; yes, it's good, but games are also won and lost in the 6th, 7th, and 8th and that given our current resources the useage is fine.<br /><br />The commentariat here is generally knowledgeable, so I'm not trying to belittle. But lack of a thought out response to my point (or understanding it) is sort of surprising, if not unexpected (being as this is the interwebs).Big Oilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-26405348381127462892010-06-14T14:02:00.753-04:002010-06-14T14:02:00.753-04:00Yeah, Right. That Rivera guy in New York is highly...Yeah, Right. That Rivera guy in New York is highly overated.NatsJack in Floridanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-15253884177511051302010-06-14T13:40:39.766-04:002010-06-14T13:40:39.766-04:00@a dc wonk--
I doubt Mark would know the answer t...@a dc wonk--<br /><br />I doubt Mark would know the answer to that question. Why would Riggs prospectively date Capps' time in the closer spot?<br /><br />You reference his whip and BA Against. His career BABIP (a better number for this purpose) is .306. This year? .361 (.302 league avg). Granted, his walks are greater than his career rate (2.15 '10 to 1.7 career), but his strand rate is below avg (69% to a league avg of 72%). The case can be made to expect both numbers to move toward the average. Even if not, while opponents are hitting slightly more line drives off him (possibility explaining the rise in BABIP/strand rate, although I doubt .060ish points/3% worth), his GB/FB is at a career high (1.17). This further supports an argument that his BABIP is at least somewhat inflated and is leading to an increased WHIP (along with the aforementioned uptick in BBs). <br /><br />The upswing is that his increased FB velocity and horizontal movement (both career highs currently) have also allowed him to generate, it seems, the better GB/FB ratio. My hope is that he realizes this and adjusts to better his control to prevent walks without sacrificing the type of movement that enables him to get grounders, and, along with strikeouts, out of jams.<br /><br />Finally, from a non-numbers perspective, he was hosed twice in one week on dubious check swing calls. If he converts those, noone is really clamoring for a role change. Besides, I like the bullpen how it is -- bring Storen and Clippard in when the game is really on the line in the 6th, 7th or 8th. Whether Riggs knows it or not (I'm supposing the latter), THAT is the time to use your ace reliever, which I concede that Capps is not. The whole closer idea is terribly overrated.Big Oilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-22656545006146689972010-06-14T13:37:42.277-04:002010-06-14T13:37:42.277-04:00DC Wonk: I don't see a change of closers comin...DC Wonk: I don't see a change of closers coming anytime soon. Capps may not have the peripheral numbers that Clippard and Storen do, but aside from that little hiccup a week ago, he's gotten the job done. Managers don't go demoting closers who are 20-for-24 in save opportunities. As long as Capps is getting the job done on a regular basis, he'll be pitching the ninth.Mark Zuckermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-37990054724747752632010-06-14T13:37:31.236-04:002010-06-14T13:37:31.236-04:00The way things are looking right now they will lik...The way things are looking right now they will likely get a pick in the top 4 or 5 in 2011 so perhaps another "lights-out" pitcher will be available.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-31406217849384447072010-06-14T13:15:03.346-04:002010-06-14T13:15:03.346-04:00Storen uses the windup when no one's on base, ...Storen uses the windup when no one's on base, so he probably keeps the same warm up routine regardless of the situation. <br /><br />As for Crow, it's not fair to judge him until he has two years of service under his belt, since that's where he'd be if he signed with the Nats. He could figure something out and then be a lights out starter moving forward, so it's too soon to say that Storen is the better pick (since a starter is more valuable than a reliever). That said, considering that Crow didn't sign, Storen has been a great pick and has the stuff to get even better.courtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-5833216485358641362010-06-14T13:07:58.561-04:002010-06-14T13:07:58.561-04:00Just a guess Anonymous, but Storen maybe uses the ...Just a guess Anonymous, but Storen maybe uses the full windup to get all his body parts ready for pitching. With a background in engineering, Drew seems to have an appreciation of the physics of throwing a baseball. It'd be interesting to have him discourse on the subject(s). <br /><br />Tim Lincecum's windup is largely the result of his aeronautical engineer father's take on the phycics of throwing a baseball.Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614998804163989623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-54655011763714875112010-06-14T12:49:58.739-04:002010-06-14T12:49:58.739-04:00Why does Storen warm up before an inning from the ...Why does Storen warm up before an inning from the wind-up with only a couple of throws from the set position, kinda unusual for a closer, eh?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-74916257629716463272010-06-14T12:35:12.137-04:002010-06-14T12:35:12.137-04:00Interesting about all the so-called draft ratings ...Interesting about all the so-called draft ratings at the time, and later, most rated Crow ahead of our boy Storen. So much for draft ratings! Goooooooooo Drew--we've made the scouts eat Crow already!<br />!Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614998804163989623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-62063363516268631052010-06-14T12:16:57.788-04:002010-06-14T12:16:57.788-04:00Love Storen's attitude, I think he has all the...Love Storen's attitude, I think he has all the makings of our long-term solution at closer!markfdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-38762275199926863482010-06-14T12:10:09.786-04:002010-06-14T12:10:09.786-04:00Storen has given us something to Crow about!Storen has given us something to Crow about!Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614998804163989623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-78564419789904874822010-06-14T11:58:38.168-04:002010-06-14T11:58:38.168-04:00Is ANYONE still bemoaning the loss of Crow? Not g...Is ANYONE still bemoaning the loss of Crow? Not giving in at the last minute of his negotiations has turned out to be a very fortunate decision, even IF cheapness was the primary motivation at the time.Slidellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-78532397208215028102010-06-14T11:35:52.721-04:002010-06-14T11:35:52.721-04:00I see Marero is heating up a little bit in Harrisb...I see Marero is heating up a little bit in Harrisburg. The kid has a good approach to the game and can hit. Always started slow in Potomac and would then come on late in the year.Big Catnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-3165700598303177702010-06-14T11:32:41.155-04:002010-06-14T11:32:41.155-04:00Crow is in AA Arkansas of the Texas League. In 13...Crow is in AA Arkansas of the Texas League. In 13 starts he is 3-5 with an era of 5.40. He has given up 82 hits in 70 innings and only has 44 k's. Very average stats for "Bowden's Boy"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-78526815225117652082010-06-14T11:10:46.393-04:002010-06-14T11:10:46.393-04:00Can't help but laugh when I remember all the g...Can't help but laugh when I remember all the griping about Storen being a "signability pick," as management didn't what that supplemental pick going for naught...<br /><br />Storen, thus far, has proven himself worthy of his draft placement.<br /><br />Meanwhile, how's Aaron Crow doing?TimDznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-478152782307017982010-06-14T10:52:53.922-04:002010-06-14T10:52:53.922-04:00As I wrote in another msg, Strasburg, Storen, and ...As I wrote in another msg, Strasburg, Storen, and Clippard all have extremely good numbers (including BA against, WHIP, etc etc.) -- in fact, they are the top three on the team in a number of categories.<br /><br />Capps, in the meantime, is mediocre (.295 Batting Average against, WHIP close to 1.5).<br /><br />So, Mark, if this keeps up, how soon might we see Clipp and Store (or Store and Clipp) take over the main closer duties from Capps?A DC Wonknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-6054383712866340142010-06-14T10:49:46.656-04:002010-06-14T10:49:46.656-04:00Like a true closer, Kid Storen really thrives on t...Like a true closer, Kid Storen really thrives on the challenge. He's like Kid Desmond, who called Storen 'the closer' in yesterday's game, who also comes through in the clutch (This Kid's got a few 2-out RBIs). <br /><br />As time goes by, we're also going to find out that Kid Storen, for a pitcher, is a darn good hitter.<br /><br />Thanks for the article Mark. Now if Riggleman would only give Older Kid Morse a chance to show his stuff!Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614998804163989623noreply@blogger.com