Part of the plan

You know - like how part of the plan of getting down from an airplane in the sky is free-falling before you pull the ripcord.  "Just land the plane" you say? Ha!  Too easy!

Let's check on the Nats rule following yesterday.

1) Did they start Howie? since Kurt is still injured this is the only relevant "best lineup" question and the answer is NO they did not.  They started Zimm instead. Zimm walked once but did not get a hit. Didn't leave anyone on base though since he didn't get up with anyone on but this is still a mistake.

2) Did they reasonably pull the starter? I think so.  Strasburg had been struggling all game and was lucky to be at 99 pitches through 5. He had one strike out since the 2nd and was fooling no one. You could have pushed him with 6-7-8 up, but it was probably right to give Stras the rest of the night off rather than wait for a guy who didn't have it to make a mistake that forced you to pull him

3) Did they use their best relievers? Pulling Stras in the 5th means covering 4 full innings.  If I were to pull the Nats four best relievers I'd say Hudson, Doolittle, Rodney, and I guess Strickland? Any way having pitched last night and 3 times in the previous 5 days should have kept Strickland on the bench unless absolutely needed so you had to fill it with someone. Suero is probably the choice but I understand being gun shy with him.  Rainey was an ok choice then to take on 6-7-8 and he did the job. Doolittle was next to take on Wong and turn around Fowler and he mostly did ok walking Fowler but surviving 6 0-2 fouls to eventually get Wong.  With two outs and Goldschmidt up the Nats had a choice in my mind. Let Doolittle try to get out Goldschmidt, who hits lefties well but doesn't crush them or bring in Rodney or Hudson now and try to get 4 outs against him (the pitcher spot making the last out last inning).  Instead Hale brings in Strickland and he promptly blows the game.  I don't get the logic of using Strickland there at all.

It's never been about winning this series - that would be a plus but can easily not happen - it's about not getting swept then using the Marlins and Phillies games to cement the WC. Unfortunately for the Nats the Brewers have made THAT run (11-3) and the Cubs have decided to go from terrible to very good again and now have a 9-5 run.  But even still - with those two runs and the Nats fumbling to  5-9 run the Nats still lead the WC. And so it goes.  Go 1-1 here - at the least hold on to a WC spot then go at least 5-3 in the next 8. 

That doesn't sound like much but let's say they even lose a game to each the Cubs and Brewers despite going 1-1.  Cubs 0.5 up on the Nats, Brewers 0.5 behind. Go 5-3 and you force the Cubs to go 4-3 to stay tied and you force the Brewers to do 5-2 to pass the Nats.* Easy schedule or not 5-2 is not given.**

Basically nothing has changed. The Nats do what they are supposed to do and the other teams need to step it up to knock the Nats out. Nats don't do what they are supposed to do and well then there's trouble.

Don't get swept. Beat the Marlins. Beat the Phillies. Don't get swept. 

DON'T GET SWEPT. 

 

*seems plausible but also it means that with the 2-0 in there to gain a game on the Nats the Brewers would be on a 18-4 run which if so - you can't do much about. Tip your hat is all. 

**Also if the Cubs do better then the Cardinals suffer. Cards are up 1.5 on Nats now. 1-1 keeps them even.  Cubs beat them 1-2 and Nats beat Marlins 2-1 and it's just a half game and they are dragged into the mix as well. Which is another way it can still work out for the Nats if the Cubs and Brewers surge past them