tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post3160061494614321894..comments2024-03-28T10:50:33.234-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: Monday Quickie - Dark Clouds Silver LiningsHarperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-80712467094168000842017-05-01T19:43:03.538-07:002017-05-01T19:43:03.538-07:00What did Bowden do to Brad Wilkerson to curse the ...What did Bowden do to Brad Wilkerson to curse the CF position?Kublanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-71969152068432760332017-05-01T19:22:01.447-07:002017-05-01T19:22:01.447-07:00Hmmm. Is the Nats' centerfield actually the Be...Hmmm. Is the Nats' centerfield actually the Bermuda Triangle? Submitted for your consideration... Yesterday Cecpashelka@bayareanewsgroup.com reported... "Center fielder Denard Span’s sprained right shoulder hasn’t improved the way the Giants have hoped and there remains no timetable for when he might be activated." Ben Revere? Hitting .184 with the Angels. Now Adam Eaton out for the year. Hmmm. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-54513595789955198522017-05-01T12:45:15.870-07:002017-05-01T12:45:15.870-07:00And Bryce scored more runs in April than any other...And Bryce scored more runs in April than any other player in history.Richard Parkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-35284232644819606292017-05-01T11:48:32.061-07:002017-05-01T11:48:32.061-07:00First off I felt as a baseball fan in general that...First off I felt as a baseball fan in general that Plawecki was a hero for stepping up and taking one for the team yesterday. Team player. <br /><br />That said, he did get three outs in the 7th after Smoker gave up 5, so why wouldn't guys going up against him in the 8th not swing away? I mean you still got to swing, field, throw and catch the ball to end the game right? So I don't feel there was piling on or violating any unwritten baseball rules in this case. <br /><br />Lastly, the Nats scored 23 runs in EIGHT innings, not nine. Makes it even more impressive, IMO. Froggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05425616684415704428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-62249683404785122212017-05-01T11:45:13.206-07:002017-05-01T11:45:13.206-07:00so MAT's been on a tear the last few days. Is...so MAT's been on a tear the last few days. Is it possible someone taught him to choke up and go for singles since the team has plenty of power? If he could swing for contact, he'd cut down the Ks and probably single a lot more, which would be perfectly fine.section 406https://www.blogger.com/profile/01106776789454903529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-78444688074767917392017-05-01T11:34:49.178-07:002017-05-01T11:34:49.178-07:00I could get used to the Gas-House Gorillas routine...I could get used to the Gas-House Gorillas routine, going full conga-line around the bases like that. <br /><br />Looking forward to the ryan/Ryan/RYAN post tomorrow!JE34noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-36362710853583931812017-05-01T11:05:44.553-07:002017-05-01T11:05:44.553-07:00Stevenson is a good point and may get a look if MA...Stevenson is a good point and may get a look if MAT can't get it going. Stevenson reminds me of an Eaton-type; hard-nosed, grinder than doesn't have much flair, just a slappy Joe that is dynamic in the field an on the bases. Wouldn't mind him hitting 8th instead of Taylor at some point this season. Lord knows we have enough pop in this lineup.Ole PBNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-11056031601584524842017-05-01T10:58:25.882-07:002017-05-01T10:58:25.882-07:00Let's take a moment to give credit where credi...Let's take a moment to give credit where credit is due: the Nationals have been very cautious with their pitching staff (except for what they did to Roark in 2015), and it HAS PAID OFF. Sure, Strasburg will go down at some point this year, but the Nats have done everything possible to protect him.<br /><br />By contrast, the Mets have abused their pitching staff and/or let their pitchers abuse themselves. And now, despite having an incredibly deep pool of talent, the Mets are paying the price.<br /><br />Separately, I don't think there is an unwritten rule about not teeing off against a position player who is pitching. Stealing is a no-no. But hitting is fine. After all, it is the Mets who decided to save their pitching staff.PotomacFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17479027458024348671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-30921129053012142032017-05-01T10:34:04.812-07:002017-05-01T10:34:04.812-07:00Correction: Stevenson now in AAA as of today*
@1n...Correction: Stevenson now in AAA as of today*<br /><br />@1natsfan - No I don't think so. If we were stealing and stuff like that then maybe. But you can't ask a major league hitter to damage his pride, and/or stats, by just conceding an at bat like that. They were only swinging at strikes, they weren't forcing extra bases, I think it was all kosher/Bjd1207https://www.blogger.com/profile/08595153543505790679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-17503840004357946972017-05-01T10:25:07.915-07:002017-05-01T10:25:07.915-07:00Was at the game-the only thing missing was having ...Was at the game-the only thing missing was having Chris Berman screaming back, back, back...<br /><br />Did the Nationals violate one of baseball's nutty unwritten rules by teeing off on Plawieki? When a team brings in a position player when they are down a ton of runs, they are conceding the game. Should the Nationals expect someone to be drilled the next time they play the Mets?<br />If the Nats had attempted to steal after being up 15 runs, someone would have gotten beaned.<br />Having never witnessed anything like this, does anyone have any thoughts?1natsfannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-15117802451917346242017-05-01T10:11:30.292-07:002017-05-01T10:11:30.292-07:00Basically every single recent starter with an aver...Basically every single recent starter with an average fastball velo in the upper 90s has gone down with a major injury. I've speculated about Syndergaard for awhile. It just seems inevitable. I guess Felix and Verlander survived in tact for the most part but Felix lost a lot of velo and Verlander did his ramp up as the game goes on thing. <br /><br />Chapman does what he does cause he's a reliever. If he threw that hard as a starter, he'd be out a long time ago. I don't think it's physically possible to average in the upper 90s as a starter. The human body can't do it - one or two freak-of-nature aside. We just see it again and again and again. No one seems to have learned.cassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-49463468326772227662017-05-01T10:03:45.425-07:002017-05-01T10:03:45.425-07:00Hope the Lerners are actually ready to trade/spend...Hope the Lerners are actually ready to trade/spend this season to make a run. Rizzo can get deals done, but will Old Man Lerner sign off on the check? Not overly optimistic in the latter.NatsVAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-59377154786621191032017-05-01T09:33:46.013-07:002017-05-01T09:33:46.013-07:00Can't believe I'm saying this, but I might...Can't believe I'm saying this, but I might actually be more upset by the Mets' stunning incompetence than I am excited by yesterday's home run derby. Dude refused an MRI after missing a start due to discomfort all around his throwing arm, i.e. the only reason he's there. That's dumb enough on his part, but then for the front office to throw up their hands and say "well we couldn't strap him to the table" is incredible. No, you couldn't, but you could certainly keep skipping his starts until he does the responsible thing.<br /><br />And even before that, Syndergaard comes into spring training all beefed up, claiming he wants to throw even harder to "test his limits." We know what the limit is, and its name is Aroldis Chapman. I forget where I read it, but I saw somewhere that the forces endured when throwing a ball as fast as he does are about as much as a human arm can take before things start breaking.<br /><br />He's been intentionally putting additional stress on his body to pick up, at best, an additional 2-3 mph on his fastball. Unbelievable. The Mets pitchers have actually been buying into their stupid comic book nicknames, and they're suffering for it.elchupinazohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06626204697716387752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-64274292830759082192017-05-01T09:18:35.487-07:002017-05-01T09:18:35.487-07:00@PotomacFan
I think it's the upside (as Bjd i...@PotomacFan<br /><br />I think it's the upside (as Bjd is getting at). They know what Goodwin can do at the MLB level, but they don't know what Bautista can do just yet. If Bautista continues to hit near the same clip he did in the minors or in Spring Training, then Bautista "proves" to be the better player (in a SSS). Things will surely move around more in the coming monthsFriesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-44115894913194683582017-05-01T08:50:29.628-07:002017-05-01T08:50:29.628-07:00Is MAT our only internal option? Stevenson has now...Is MAT our only internal option? Stevenson has now power to speak of, but plays a stellar CF and is currently slashing .350/.428/.438 in AA. We know what MAT is. It would be a gutsy move but I'd give him a couple weeks to show if he's gonna have a breakout this year (relatively speaking) and if not then try out Bautista/Stevenson in quick progression to see if anything sticks before the ASB.<br /><br />If not, go shoppingBjd1207https://www.blogger.com/profile/08595153543505790679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-15678810555130616002017-05-01T08:47:19.652-07:002017-05-01T08:47:19.652-07:00Any idea why Rafael Bautista is now the CF back up...Any idea why Rafael Bautista is now the CF back up, rather than Brian Goodwin? Goodwin looked OK last year, and Goodwin's stats are slightly better than Bautista's at AAA. PotomacFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17479027458024348671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-67997067916274173922017-05-01T08:35:24.912-07:002017-05-01T08:35:24.912-07:00Thor out indefinitely with a lat tear. It's sa...Thor out indefinitely with a lat tear. It's sad for him and for baseball generally, because he's a remarkable player, but unless a lot of guys get healthy, stay healthy, and start playing well, the Mets season is gonna get even uglier in a hurry.Josh Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00524273388243642450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-37869276549386803032017-05-01T08:06:43.804-07:002017-05-01T08:06:43.804-07:00The downgrade from Eaton to MAT is huge, but if ye...The downgrade from Eaton to MAT is huge, but if yesterday marks Rendon's return to his usual form, the team will get by. Don't forget, they played at the level they did in April while Rendon was struggling to keep his average over .200. If he's starting to straighten things out, this line-up remains fierce.<br /><br />Also, that Zim guy had a lucky April. I am happy to have been proven wrong so far. But we all know he's a washed-up has-been who couldn't conceivably repeat in May. NO WAY!Robotnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-90217201508599884612017-05-01T07:58:05.675-07:002017-05-01T07:58:05.675-07:00I went to the game on Saturday, and ended up sitti...I went to the game on Saturday, and ended up sitting very close to a large group of Mets fans who call themselves 'The 7 Line Army'.<br /><br />I'm glad the Nats were able to avoid the sweep.G Cracka Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718297381010491862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-64575421045405923642017-05-01T07:42:35.800-07:002017-05-01T07:42:35.800-07:00Agreeing with mike k. The Nats, barring further in...Agreeing with mike k. The Nats, barring further injuries, should still win the division handily. But losing Eaton is a real dagger when the Nats need to win 11 games in October. The downgrade is just so big. Now I'm going to hope and pray that MAT finally finds it, because the talent is clearly there with him. But I'm not optimistic. Come the cool air of October, this offense is going to need a singly Joe or two like Eaton because the HRs Zimm, BRYCE, and Co. have been hitting will be warning track fly-balls. <br /><br />But I'm going to continue to bask in the glory that is Rendon's game yesterday for as long as I can, gotta stay positive where you can.Friesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-33793849368696591812017-05-01T07:15:23.986-07:002017-05-01T07:15:23.986-07:00I would have to assume Trea leads off, which would...I would have to assume Trea leads off, which would have happened even with Eaton if not for the lefty-righty stuff (and did on occassion anyway). The bigger question is who bats second (seems to be Werth), and who plays center. ***IF*** Drew can handle it when he comes back from the DL, you can put Turner there and Drew at short - that's probably your best offensive lineup. But I don't think that's going to happen, because of defense and Turner's development at short. I think we're gonna see a lot of Taylor, at least until he swings and misses his way out of the spot, while the management crosses their fingers that that won't happen.<br /><br />Nats will still win the division. This is more a blow for the playoffs.mike knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-74506555275527118712017-05-01T07:11:25.634-07:002017-05-01T07:11:25.634-07:00I know we lost two games and won only one, but we ...I know we lost two games and won only one, but we won the series. Or at least, the Mets sure as heck didn't "win" it. Does anyone really think the Mets are better off than they did Friday morning? mikenimzonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-64609632660591280312017-05-01T07:08:50.268-07:002017-05-01T07:08:50.268-07:00For sure, we will take it! BP is likely going to ...For sure, we will take it! BP is likely going to need an enhancement and CF is again a question mark, but if that's the worse, then it ain't so bad. Especially with this fantastic lineup.Chas Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00306056671418831755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-5901820996243570622017-05-01T07:02:19.446-07:002017-05-01T07:02:19.446-07:00Pretty discouraging weekend although Sunday was fu...Pretty discouraging weekend although Sunday was fun. (Did you catch Rendon's on-field interview? "Our pitching staff did great." Hilarious.) I blame all the jinx posts on here last week.<br /><br />What are our options for center field/lead off? And was Span our best we've ever done in that position?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-88666915621661386882017-05-01T06:55:44.006-07:002017-05-01T06:55:44.006-07:00Thanks Harp!Thanks Harp!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com