tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post3326344010984102916..comments2024-03-28T10:50:33.234-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: Monday Quickie : On TargetHarperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-50799384709976527632018-05-01T06:15:50.666-07:002018-05-01T06:15:50.666-07:00I have found that Gio responds extremely well to m...I have found that Gio responds extremely well to my couch-shouts.Josh Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00524273388243642450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-70433639647506542132018-05-01T04:59:15.705-07:002018-05-01T04:59:15.705-07:00@Robot - I hadn't thought of it as a revere-an...@Robot - I hadn't thought of it as a revere-anti-jinx although that's not a bad idea. I think of it more as a case of no matter how much I yell at the TV, it doesn't do any good.W. Pattersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14136399964612314367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-33131074470966564052018-04-30T20:44:41.341-07:002018-04-30T20:44:41.341-07:00"Since I can do nothing to influence"
I..."Since I can do nothing to influence"<br /><br />Is this some sort of reverse-anti-jinx?Robotnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-62335961757088002122018-04-30T12:40:03.722-07:002018-04-30T12:40:03.722-07:00It's either time to panic, or it's time to...It's either time to panic, or it's time to look forward to an exciting rest of the season. Since I can do nothing to influence - but do really enjoy reading what Harper and his minions have to say - think I"ll do the later.<br /><br />Sit back and enjoy the ride.W. Pattersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14136399964612314367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-304594203081298612018-04-30T11:56:29.696-07:002018-04-30T11:56:29.696-07:00The hard part about letting Dusty leave is that al...The hard part about letting Dusty leave is that all the guy has done in the regular season is win. He won 95+ each of his two years. However, I did say regular season. I also think it is telling that Dusty didn't ask for a ruling on catcher interference. More importantly, he left Jayson Werth in bc Werth was a veteran that deserved the opportunity. It was problematic that the manager says, "I've been that guy, that veteran guy like Jayson". Dusty should be thinking about the team not Werth deserving to play or not. Werth is in the minors this year trying to earn his way back to the bigs. Finally, Dusty's complete debacle of handling Strasburg was also worrisome. One it made the Nats seem like a laughingstock again. Plus, it made Dusty seem asleep at the wheel in my opinion.<br /><br />I think the Nats still have time, but do need to start turning it around. Also, I can see both sides of the Dusty as manager argument. Of course, if the Lerners don't completely botch negotiations with Bud Black it may not have mattered.Jaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-11919452860694818892018-04-30T11:01:06.361-07:002018-04-30T11:01:06.361-07:00@SM: LOL -- now THAT was funny.
You have to play ...@SM: LOL -- now THAT was funny.<br /><br />You have to play the players you have, and several active roster players should be in Syracuse. Can't hang too much of that on the manager.<br /><br />But -- Martinez's use of Austin Adams in extra innings showed an appalling lack of knowledge, even when running out of arms. Leaving Zimmerman behind Harper as long as he did was borderline negligent. A manager's impact is usually at the margins... and job 1 is to do no harm. He's done a little harm so far.JE34noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-28448858155727423892018-04-30T09:16:59.481-07:002018-04-30T09:16:59.481-07:00Two more "manager" comments today (imply...Two more "manager" comments today (implying Dusty Baker wouldn't be losing all these 1-run games).<br /><br />Martinez, Schmartinez--the Nats could have re-signed Dusty or, better yet, Jim Riggleman (he of the "most of the time you've got to manage for 25, not the one," and who is going "with offense over defense" in Cincinnati.<br /><br />Maybe if Dusty told another Jimi Hendrix story, Murphy would be in the lineup. Or shared a blunt with Rendon and Eaton to make the pain go away, not only keeping them in the lineup but ensuring they deliver in the clutch.<br /><br />Then God would be in His heaven and all would be right with the world.<br /><br />SMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-8866299297673433682018-04-30T08:29:18.549-07:002018-04-30T08:29:18.549-07:00Agree with Hoo on the manager situation; a rookie ...Agree with Hoo on the manager situation; a rookie manager rarely wins (I know a couple are doing well right now). The idea that Martinez isn't a rookie because of all his years with Maddon is inaccurate. It's very different to be a coach. <br /><br />I also agree with Ole PBN about that Nats' situational hitting. Their record with RISP and also with the bases loaded is terrible and has cost them several games. They were in position to win all three of the D'Back games and either their RISP problems or their pitching's tendency to give up runs in the half innning following the team scoring cost them dearly.<br /><br />In better news, it looks like the three teams ahead of the Nats probably can't sustain their hot paces. I think one of the three will have staying power, but if two of them do, the Nats are in trouble.Johnny Callisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06517288347359334617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-16578968062780451592018-04-30T08:01:13.868-07:002018-04-30T08:01:13.868-07:00One thing that is fascinating about the Nats is th...One thing that is fascinating about the Nats is that when it is time to win and take the next step they roll with a rookie manager. The organization usually goes safe and a. It cheap. But with managers it is let’s roll the dice and hope a roomie guy takes us the whole way. <br /><br />Hoonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-41802864962766542822018-04-30T07:40:00.508-07:002018-04-30T07:40:00.508-07:00On the bright side, so far Matt Wieters has a WRC+...On the bright side, so far Matt Wieters has a WRC+ of 117, compared to 62 last year. Both he and Pedro have positive WAR this year (both of them had negative WAR last year).G Cracka Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718297381010491862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-57672907272436543002018-04-30T07:15:56.871-07:002018-04-30T07:15:56.871-07:00I totally agree about the patience preaching, Harp...I totally agree about the patience preaching, Harper. Though difficult to stick to - as we fans are impatient - this team is not healthy and it will be a couple months of wins here and there to get back in the hunt. What I have zero tolerance for is the mental mistakes. For example, things that I cannot get mad at: a fielding error, a robbed hit, a walk, a strikeout on a good pitch, a home run by an opposing hitter. Sometimes you get beat or make a physical error (swings and misses, pitcher missing his spots). You hope these don't happen, but it does happen to everyone. Then there are the things I hate to see: striking out looking with RISP on a 1-2 count. Flailing at pitches way outside the zone. Standing in the box with no plan of attack in mind. Not making an adjustment to your approach based on a change in the situation (two strikes/runners on/late in the game, etc.) I truly believe that a AAA player and an MLB All-Star can possess this mental awareness. The physical tools are not comparable of those two players and I'm accepting of that. But, bone-headed plays, knowledge of the strike zone, a lack of awareness is tough to watch whether its Bryce or Matt Reynolds. And I have to say, Michael A. Taylor is public enemy #1 when it comes to these issues. I appreciate his defense in CF, so I'm all for him being a late inning defensive sub or a bat off the bench. The guy has all the physical tools in the world to make you drool and zero awareness at the plate - so in my book, he's one of the toughest Nats to watch. Ole PBNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-26252447718315480352018-04-30T06:42:59.081-07:002018-04-30T06:42:59.081-07:00JQ - hold out hope for Rendon but not Eaton. Seems...JQ - hold out hope for Rendon but not Eaton. Seems like at this point even if he is ready they may send him down to the minors for a few gamesHarperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-90345053694314309232018-04-30T06:37:07.374-07:002018-04-30T06:37:07.374-07:00I'm taking in my second game of the season on ...I'm taking in my second game of the season on Wednesday. I want to see Rendon and Eaton on the field. With Turner starting to hit, it sure would be nice to have that lineup at the top of the order.Jon Quimbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06939096664895272304noreply@blogger.com