tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post3200201172291108723..comments2024-03-28T10:50:33.234-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: Nationals "secrets"Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-3580075540831635492016-08-31T22:02:21.821-07:002016-08-31T22:02:21.821-07:00That last line there was supposed to be silly and ...That last line there was supposed to be silly and not nearly as rude as it reads. Sorry.sircnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-91178009407560053782016-08-31T22:00:17.525-07:002016-08-31T22:00:17.525-07:00Yeah Murphy is worse than ever at 2b. His errors a...Yeah Murphy is worse than ever at 2b. His errors are down, but that is a product of his inability to get to routine ground balls. There is no denying that the team is *significantly* worse defensively with Murphy at second than with Murphy at first. He is the worst, dead last, everyday player at 2b in baseball. <br /><br />Also...<br /><br />Math killed the eye test. You're seeing ghosts. sircnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-16155548610417387182016-08-31T20:49:16.261-07:002016-08-31T20:49:16.261-07:00Also. I literally cannot stand FP continuing to sa...Also. I literally cannot stand FP continuing to say "you know it doesn't matter if you hit .210 with a .250 OBP and no power all season if you get hot in the playoffs that's all anybody remembers." Yeah. As if Ryan Zimmerman has shown ANYTHING over the last calendar year plus that indicates he's capable of getting hot over a stretch of more than 2 games in a row.BxJaycobbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841583667789907324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-69481868453414991902016-08-31T20:46:35.687-07:002016-08-31T20:46:35.687-07:00Frankly I prefer playing Robinson at 1B over Zim a...Frankly I prefer playing Robinson at 1B over Zim at the moment. When he's been allowed to play, Robinson hits. (Granted by hits I mean he generally goes like 1-4 with a double or 1-3 with a walk and single). Like....260 with gap pop. But that's better than Zim. BxJaycobbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841583667789907324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-65873805869067327702016-08-31T20:42:20.523-07:002016-08-31T20:42:20.523-07:00Fries: nope. Murphy is the worst defensive second ...Fries: nope. Murphy is the worst defensive second baseman in baseball according to defensive runs saved. (Shows up in his WAR which is 4.9 but should be like 6 given his offense). Doesn't show up on eye test because it's all horrible range, not necessarily constant errors. (Sort of opposite of Desmond last year, who botched balls hit right at him but had great range.)BxJaycobbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841583667789907324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-69807852327173350052016-08-31T11:43:09.053-07:002016-08-31T11:43:09.053-07:00I also got a kick out of Murphy last night. Dude ...I also got a kick out of Murphy last night. Dude goes full SUPERMAN to snag that ball, then fires it into the dugout... a top play and not top play candidate at the same time! Zimmerman11https://www.blogger.com/profile/14524103974207323535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-90608287811498309832016-08-31T11:06:47.872-07:002016-08-31T11:06:47.872-07:00Now I'll admit I haven't looked at any def...Now I'll admit I haven't looked at any defensive stats (which are meh to begin with), but Murphy's "terrible" defense at 2B seems pretty average to me by the eye test. I have to think the lineup now is the best it's going to get, unless you move Trea to SS and put Revere in CF (batting 8th), and even that is potentially not upgradingFriesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-25705907877622222112016-08-31T10:56:03.954-07:002016-08-31T10:56:03.954-07:00I don't agree. I would stick with Zim (and Ro...I don't agree. I would stick with Zim (and Robinson) for now, at least. Zim hits as well as Revere or MAT, and he has greater upside. More importantly, Zim is a pretty good first baseman, able to catch one-hop throws, and snare hard hit balls down the line. Murphy has hands of rock, unable to field at 2B or 1B. (I got a big laugh out of his full out stretch at 2B to snag a rocket, and then he threw from his knees about 15 feet wide of first base.)PotomacFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17479027458024348671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-53263900274242653812016-08-31T10:22:43.009-07:002016-08-31T10:22:43.009-07:00We all agree that the best lineup includes Murphy ...We all agree that the best lineup includes Murphy at 1b, Turner at 2b and either MAT or Revere in center, correct? <br /><br />Zim has to sit if this continues. Murphy's terrible defense goes away when he plays first, and then the team upgrades defensively at 2 other key positions.sircnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-3099164519000281092016-08-31T10:13:19.400-07:002016-08-31T10:13:19.400-07:00Ah, got it! I figured you were looking for a new ...Ah, got it! I figured you were looking for a new pedant commenter anyway... Love the blog/analysis, thanks!Lanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-33892996983962504912016-08-31T09:30:31.195-07:002016-08-31T09:30:31.195-07:00Lane - I knew someone would say that - I mean .222...Lane - I knew someone would say that - I mean .222 in last 4 weeks but I didn't spell it out. my bad. Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-43441903468724887412016-08-31T09:21:36.361-07:002016-08-31T09:21:36.361-07:00FYI, Werth is hitting .248FYI, Werth is hitting .248Lanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-79781164670403256202016-08-31T09:10:49.929-07:002016-08-31T09:10:49.929-07:00Papelbon would already be on the Cubs or the Red S...Papelbon would already be on the Cubs or the Red Sox right now, but he's refusing to sign for the same exact reason he requested we release him: he seriously thinks that he still has the talent and the leverage to demand being the closer.<br /><br />He's in complete and total denial about where he is in his career and what he has left in the tank. And if he doesn't change his "closer or nothing" attitude, his major league career is over.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-7881448476383800742016-08-31T09:10:10.986-07:002016-08-31T09:10:10.986-07:00robot - things have been good. Seems like early Se...robot - things have been good. Seems like early Sept isn't out of the question.Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-31839297366105160042016-08-31T08:19:44.724-07:002016-08-31T08:19:44.724-07:00Our only hope for advancing at all, much less far ...Our only hope for advancing at all, much less far into the playoffs is for our starters to go eight innings or the bats to somehow come alive and give that miserable bullpen seven or eight run leads after six or seven innings. <br /><br />I think Dusty should stop playing matchup. Our bullpen is such a crapshoot. You don't know what you're going to get out of these guys until they actually stand on the mound and deliver. They may be great; they may be awful. You just don't know. If he brings someone in to pitch to two guys in the seventh and he gets them out, why not let him stay in? I say if you have to go the pen, pick a guy based on whatever criteria you want, and as long as he's getting people out, let him pitch as many as he can. If he gets in trouble, don't wait. Pull him and bring in the next guy.Sammy Kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286255593094532554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-73692631032426152202016-08-31T08:19:14.640-07:002016-08-31T08:19:14.640-07:00The problem for the strangler is that he wants to ...The problem for the strangler is that he wants to close. He needs to realize that is unlikely at this stage of his strangling career. Plus, despite what the Nats might say, the strangler if viewed as a clubhouse cancer (overused phrase I know).<br /><br />I think they have to ride it out with Zim at first. Believe it or not, I think Murphy's glove (or lack thereof) plays better at second. Robinson can play occasionally. I think Petit makes the postseason roster based on experience. Perez may as well, but I'm less confident about that.<br /><br />For me, the offense is the major question of the playoffs. I think their pitching will find a way to at least do well. With Zim playing that is 7-8-9 are automatic outs. That makes scoring a lot tougher.Jaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-58333598834653309162016-08-31T08:10:24.893-07:002016-08-31T08:10:24.893-07:00Looks like the DC Strangler wasn't able to fin...Looks like the DC Strangler wasn't able to find a home. That seems actually a bit surprising.Chas Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00306056671418831755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-45026912591166657542016-08-31T07:56:31.660-07:002016-08-31T07:56:31.660-07:00Lopez and Petit have been TERRIBLE. Can the Nats ...Lopez and Petit have been TERRIBLE. Can the Nats replace them on the playoff roster? When Strasburg and Ross come back, that means two fewer pitchers on the 25 man (playoff) roster. Mark R. looks to be the LOOGY. Ross can be long relief. Will also be interesting to see if Sean Burnett can contribute.<br /><br />If Drew comes back for the playoffs, I suppose MAT gets dropped. PotomacFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17479027458024348671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-65911735110029974112016-08-31T07:51:46.106-07:002016-08-31T07:51:46.106-07:00What's the latest on Drew? He was a pretty so...What's the latest on Drew? He was a pretty solid contributor earlier this year. It'd be great to have that back for the playoffs, but I'd worry he'll need time to shake off the rust.Robotnoreply@blogger.com