The Nats got beat up by Houston
Jo Jo See-Ya gave up 3 homers on Friday and presented the worst of what he could end up as, if his timing doesn't work out. He only walked 2 in 6, and gave up 3 other hits. But you aren't going to win many 3 homer games.
Fedde was Fedde. 3 runs in 4 innings is bad (It's a 6.33 ERA) but it's Fedde. I've stopped looking at him. You should too.
Corbin has been usable the past few starts but trying to stretch him out won't always work and this was one of those "didn't work out" times. I like the fact he's usable again but this is kind of the worst case scenario of usability. A 4-5 innings eater to take a loss but save the pen.
The pen remains in that "below average but whatever" area with a bunch of guys who are not good, but not so bad you can't stand to see them come in.
The offense had been a relative bright spot - slightly above average! - but it's cooled down to worse than that as well. It's basically been a 3 man offense (Soto, Bell, Yadi) all year with no change. There isn't that one guy on the bench doing surprisingly well. Escobar is still playing regularly. It's a mess
Still I don't see this as a 54 win team - neither does Pythag - so we get back to my dislike of Davey and how he, in 2018 and 2020 and 2021AND this year, has gotten the Nats to do less than I'd expect them to do. Since it's hard to qualify manager impact all you can really do is go by feeling. Is the team doing worse or better than you think they should. Nats are doing worse, imo.
Now of course - what's the point of firing him is a valid thing to say. I can't answer that other than there's never a good reason to have someone bad around (see: Escobar, Alicides)
Oh well this is depressing. What a long summer this will be. BUT
Strasburg and Ross are getting back to every 5 day pitching which puts them at coming back in the Memorial Day time frame (though probably a bit later as there is no rush). They immediately become the best and 2nd best pitchers in the rotation and it goes from Corbin-Gray-Adon-Sanchez-Fedde to Strasburg-Ross-Gray-Corbin-?
If you ask me today Fedde takes that spot but that is not at all clear and a lot can happen in a month.
If you are wondering about the AAA rotation from best to worst in ERA
Tetreault : the new "Next guy up" he's been pretty decent and very solid in May. If he's still pitching this well come June... there wouldnt be a good argument not to give him a shot.
Sharp : Also better in May though not as good and not as solid overall and with worse stuff. Not really sure why you'd go to Sharp over Tetreault
Cavalli - Having a hard time dialing in, with some good performances and some bad, but that's why he's there. Doesn't seem like he'd be moved up this year right now.
Jefry Rodriguez - hard to hit, but remains wild which has been his issue in the majors when he's been up. Pure org filler and at 29 there's really no reason to see this guy in the majors outside massive injury problems.
LoganVerrett - Fedde but 32, see the last sentence for Rodrgiuez although I guess you might spot start him as he's done slightly better than Rodriguez and there's no clock starting here. Of course - just start Fedde. He's already there. Save yourself a plane ticket.
Ah well that ended up still depressing.
Here. Here's Cole Henry's year so far. That's a up thing to end on.
Strasburg-Ross-Gray-Corbin-? could be a passable rotation. Baby steps in the right direction. As much as we could use a resurgent SS, there's no telling whether either of them will come back 100%.
ReplyDeleteI'm liking Robles. Still strikes out too much, but its nice to have a player that can hit line drives and lay down a bunt, beat it out.
Depressing, yes. Not surprising though. I figured this to be throw away season. Davey does need to go... when is his contract up?
ReplyDeleteMartinez's contract expires after 2023, the same--not coincidentally, I think--as Rizzo's. They'll both be gone then--also not coincidentally.
ReplyDeleteI had Gray as a #3. I think he'll get there. However, given his propensity to give up home runs, I really worry that with the warmer weather, he'll be giving up even more home runs. And that's not good at all. And he's giving up all these home runs despite the fact that MLB is using a dead ball this year.
ReplyDeleteDepressing indeed. It's hard to look at a manager who was there when your team wins a World Series and say that he's part of the problem, but it really feels like no, he is indeed part of the problem, and the team probably won in spite of rather than because of his work in the dugout. (See also: the entire mid-10s Royals management staff from Moore on down. I don't want my team to be the new Royals!) And I don't know where I'm supposed to get hope from. Young players I hoped would play well didn't. Or like Garcia, aren't even there to try (...there's those Royals moments again. Maybe it's Escobar making me have them on the brain). Corbin didn't bounce back. Cruz didn't bounce back. Thomas cratered. Robles got a little better than 2021 but not enough better that I actually care. Even Soto is slipping. Bell is going to be gone and I only hope he keeps hitting and stays healthy so that he can bring back the prospect value suited to a star hitting rental. Maybe Yadi as well; his age makes it clear he's not going to be part of a youth movement. At least there's only two years left on Corbin's contract. If Strasburg comes back and stinks, it might actually be better to trade Soto in the offseason because there's only so many albatrosses the team can carry, and that's the most miserable idea I can conceive of.
ReplyDelete"They immediately become the best and 2nd best pitchers in the rotation and it goes from Corbin-Gray-Adon-Sanchez-Fedde to Strasburg-Ross-Gray-Corbin-?"
ReplyDeleteJust because Strasburg can pitch doesn't mean that he can pitch effectively. Case in point:
Matt Harvey's first season back after TOS surgery: 5-7 with a 6.70 ERA (backed up by a 6.37 FIP). One can hope, but I'd hope in pencil here.
Seems like Parra could be groomed as a manager, probably not for 2024 though. Y'all might laugh but the guy is smart and has great energy. That's crazy rare.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Post is writing about low A pitchers with 140 career innings, the cubbard is bare. Theophile is still fun to watch though.