SECOND MOST POPULAR BLOG OF THE LAST SEASON PLAYED WITHOUT THE STUPID EXTRA-INNING GHOST RUNNER WORLD CHAMPION WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Tuesday Quickie
Hmm Roark looks worth diving into doesn't he? Ok so I'll do that. Maybe later tonight.
Despite the Nats cruising down easy street Roark being bad would be a big issue. You need at least three starters for the playoffs (see: 2016, Nats) and as great as Gio's results have been Im not sure anyone is ready to trust him in the playoffs against anyone but the lefty heavy Dodgers. The pen is still suffering so you'd basically be asking, nay demanding, Max and Stars to win their starts. Of course the Nats won't actually go into playoffs with both these as issues but a starter issue means it's harder to come together on a relief solution.
Ok. I said it quick. Back later
I don't think Roark is a fancy stat guy...his quote: “My arm felt good.... Just need to stop pitching like crap.”
ReplyDeleteBASEBALL HARDER, TANNER! HAAAARRDERRRR!!!
DeleteHe pulled a Samson, should've never shaved the beard! I knew Werth's injury would haunt the team, he could have prevented this!
ReplyDeleteActually, Tanner was overthrowing the ball last night. He had some fastballs at 97. Initially, I thought the radar gun was incorrect, but the announcers commented on this. Tanner just needs to get back into a good groove.
ReplyDeleteAs for the bullpen, they actually did okay last night. Not terrific, but not awful. They had to pitch 6+ innings, and (technically) they only gave up 2 runs (although 1 - 2 more runs could have scored on Ozuna's hit, and the inning might still be going).
What is really up with Werth? Seems the team hasn't suffered much from his lack of presence offensively, and has probably actually improved defensively with Rayburn, and Goodwin playing in LF.
ReplyDeleteWhat DL (length) is he on?
@Froggy was on 10 day but hasn't resumed baseball activities yet even though he's eligible to return
ReplyDeleteTanner is never going to be an overpowering pitcher a la Max or Nolan Ryan. Last night his pitches were faster but generally straighter. That's bad when straighter is also over the middle of the plate. He needs more movement on the ball, and he loses that when he's throwing 96, 97. Get back to 85-92 and work the paint a little better and he'll be fine.
ReplyDeleteIt boils down to control with Roark imo. He has really struggled with his 2-seam fastball this year. The last few years he has been able to throw that on the inside corner to lefties and produce ground balls and strikeouts. This year he has been sort of all over the place. He had a couple of walks in that 6-run inning. Needs better control.
ReplyDeleteThe same can be said of our bullpen. Romero can't walk Dee Gordon on 4 pitches. He walked Yellich to load the bases as well prior to Ozuna's game ending hit. You can't walk two guys in the inning and expect to get out of it with zero runs.
I also have to say I am thoroughly unimpressed with Mike Maddux. Our pitching is getting worse and not better. And if I see another Wieters passed ball or throw to second land in the outfield I may lose my mind.
The Nats need to acquire three solid veteran arms, with one being a starter, if they hope to compete come playoff time. If not, look for yet another first round exit because the Lerners were too cheap to allow Rizzo to build a proper bullpen. Just winning another NL East "participation trophy" title will be a massive failure.
ReplyDeleteKarl K: I'm not ready to say they need a starter. If Roark is pitching like this in a month, I will worry. But I think it is likely he ends up as what he is. A 3.8-4.2 ERA guy. I think due to the luck he has benefitted from in recent years we got sort of thrown off into believing he is a 3rd ace level pitcher or a number 2, when he's more of a mid rotation/back of rotation arm. And that is fine when you have Stras and max. Let's give him time to try to figure it out.
ReplyDeleteBut yes they need 2 bullpen arms. 1 is not enough.
The other thing: tanner didn't pitch nearly as bad as his line last night. He really only made one terrible pitch. The one to bour. Otherwise it was a lot of unfortunately placed grounders and infield hits and stuff. He pitched well enough to give up like 3-4 runs. Not 6
ReplyDeleteI was only able to listen last night... was his runback-fastball anywhere to be found? I expect not, given the results. I think that one pitch makes him effective... its presence in his arsenal makes him above average. Without it, he's a totally different guy. The threat of the runback makes hitters take defensive swings at pitches off the plate.
ReplyDelete