tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post2414490757277927729..comments2024-03-28T10:50:33.234-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: Mailbag Friday*Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-8065263954989865462012-10-22T08:22:52.278-07:002012-10-22T08:22:52.278-07:00Yeah, I have no issues with Danny. I wish he was ...Yeah, I have no issues with Danny. I wish he was a better hitter, of course, but he provides plus offense for a 2B and very much plus offense for a high-defense 2B. And he already shows more plate discipline that Desmond, so it's possible that those SOs could be cut down. Unless we can hypnotize the Yankees into being so disgusted with Cano's postseason that they want to ship him out of town, I don't really see much of a way to upgrade.<br /><br />(Actually, that pretty much defines the Nats lineup. The only way to improve it other than Morse's OF spot is to plug in genuine star players...and if Morse were to hit like 2010, he actually *would* be that. LaRoche is the best 1B on the free-agent market and we have a club option for him. Desmond was arguably the best SS in the league last year when you combine his hitting with his defense. Zimmerman is a top-quality 3B except for his injury-plagued slow start. Werth played up to his career numbers, Harper was damned good for a 19-year-old, Espi we've just discussed, and we're getting Ramos back at catcher, never mind that Suzuki actually played for the Nats like the guy he used to be (I have to say, I'm liking these "everybody wins" Oakland trades we got up to last year).)DezoPenguinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-49737167670202726992012-10-22T07:30:46.421-07:002012-10-22T07:30:46.421-07:00Short-sleeved shirt would be chilly for the 50s. A...Short-sleeved shirt would be chilly for the 50s. And pants are a bit hot in the 80s. Manageable, but hot. Shorts are a must for the 90s, though. I'm sorry no one wants to see your legs, Harper, but don't speak for the rest of us!<br /><br />Froggy: I know you didn't mean this literally, but Lombo asctually works out in DC with Zimm and Werth during the offseason. He definitely tried to bulk up last winter. I imagine he'll work on that again.<br />cassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-71779555895779104522012-10-19T17:36:43.923-07:002012-10-19T17:36:43.923-07:00I like Danny. He and Desi must be in the top 5 MI...I like Danny. He and Desi must be in the top 5 MI defensive combos in the NL (get to work Harper). And as you say, he comes cheap. I believe the job is his unless his numbers fall off more than this year. <br /><br />He did lead the team in games played and TPA, but me thinks of his 189 SO's, at least 20 of them were ball four. I would rather he take more pitches and strike out looking than swing at so many bad ones. But that's easy for me to say as I'm usually on my second beer by the time he comes up.<br /><br />If I'm Lombo I grow my hair real long and hit the weight room hard with the Beast and the Shark in the off season and see if that helps develop any power.<br /><br />Pants with flip flops. Otherwise the top of my left leg gets a weird suntan that my right one doesn't.Froggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05425616684415704428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-22528747998279874952012-10-19T11:25:54.274-07:002012-10-19T11:25:54.274-07:00Danny plays second base and hits in the seven hole...Danny plays second base and hits in the seven hole. If you think he's in any way shape or form hurting the offense, you're wrong.<br /><br />If anyone in the lineup is a weak link, it's Morse. He's got an actual important role, and he's also a free swinger. When he hits, we score runs. When he doesn't, we don't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-21528756857713412152012-10-19T09:56:50.299-07:002012-10-19T09:56:50.299-07:00Very good comments on Danny, Harper. I like Danny...Very good comments on Danny, Harper. I like Danny, I think he adds to the chemistry of the Nats and is a Davey Johnson type free swinger... he just strikes out too much and at extremely inopportune times. One of the issues I just hated almost all scene was the seemingly consistent numbers of runners left on base.Chas Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00306056671418831755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-82094772735761993292012-10-19T08:54:27.438-07:002012-10-19T08:54:27.438-07:00The Espi situation to me is thusly:
The Nats need...The Espi situation to me is thusly:<br /><br />The Nats need a slightly better offense. They can hope it comes from Ramos's return, Harper improvement and healthy Werth/Zim/Morse (possibly offset by LaRoche departure/Desmond regression). Looking at positions, it's hard to see any new faces other than Morse/LaRoche and second. So Espinosa becomes obvious place for improvement.<br /><br /><br />Espi might not get the same time as Dez b/c it's one thing to develop on a terrible team. It's another thing for a championship contender to possibly stall a season b/c it's waiting for an Espi breakout. <br /><br />Harper, do you think the Nats to improve slightly offensively? And where can that come from, if not Espinosa?<br /><br />reanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-64378132785050381402012-10-19T08:36:44.406-07:002012-10-19T08:36:44.406-07:00Brian - yeah, we have our predispositions. Which i...Brian - yeah, we have our predispositions. Which is why it's hard to get behind a soft-tossing closer or a DH who (somehow) an OBP and SB machine. <br /><br />Slowly we're learning good is better than prototypical but it's a process. <br /><br />Donald - Sure, the main reason is that sometimes players just have bad years for non-injury reasons. Then there'e the 5th starter thing and what they end up doing with first. Outside of that things that could MAY be be expected to regress Moore, Tracy, Suzuki, Morse (we could argue), Werth (though he should play more which would even it out). It's possible. <br /><br />Wally - The trade idea isn't a bad one, but I could say that for anyone that's not Bryce. <br /><br />Sec314 - Suck it up! Our military wears pants! Do you hate our men and women in uniform? DO YOU HATE AMERICA?<br /><br />I actully don't mind being hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Feels like it should. And pants are an easy way to avoid getting burned! I've actually taken to sweating out some game in long sleeves because I don't want to lather on sunscreen. <br /><br />A team should want good offensive players, regardless of what their position feels like they should have. Danny is... well close to it, but it's not like Lombo is one. Rendon...we'll see. Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-30333718156039163802012-10-19T08:24:11.091-07:002012-10-19T08:24:11.091-07:00What's your problem with shorts? Have you ever...What's your problem with shorts? Have you ever sat in 90 plus degree heat at a baseball game in pants? Not an enjoyable experience.<br /><br />I agree with Brian, a light hitting 2B with some bat control is way different than a guy who swings (badly) for the fences and strikes out a lot. Even so, having been proved wrong about Desmond, I'm willing to give Espinosa another season to develop... but if Rendon can play Second Base and continues to hit, this could be a more interesting problem.Sec314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-32286625507618410402012-10-19T08:13:11.298-07:002012-10-19T08:13:11.298-07:00I agree that Danny is good, cheap and can play SS....I agree that Danny is good, cheap and can play SS. It is an easy answer to me to throw him back out there. Although that combination should be a powerful trade chip, and if he could be the centerpiece to one more above average SP with several years of control, then I'd have to think hard about it, since the fall off to Lombo could be manageable.Wallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-48288753713731236852012-10-19T08:05:43.032-07:002012-10-19T08:05:43.032-07:00What's encouraging about next year is that the...What's encouraging about next year is that there are a number of players on the team who I'd expect to improve over this year. Harper should be better and getting Ramos back should be a help at catcher. If Zimm and Morse stay healthy, they will be better too. Strasburg will be better. Other than LaRoche (and maybe Desmond), there weren't a lot of career years that will likely revert to the mean, were there? <br /><br />Aside from an injury, is there any way that this team isn't even better next year?Donaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12295227567170577873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-2561821781607039482012-10-19T08:05:30.208-07:002012-10-19T08:05:30.208-07:00I believe some of the angst surrounding Espinosa i...I believe some of the angst surrounding Espinosa is based on the fact that he is another free swinger at a position where you typically don't see the free swingers predominate (and further highlighted since his double play partner is also a free swinger)<br /><br />They lack a prototypical leadoff hitter because of this since Harper swings and misses a lot as well meaning you don't have that lead-off guy from the three positions you typically expect to find one (CF, SS and 2B).Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14755603473119975849noreply@blogger.com