tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post827201710270345110..comments2024-03-28T10:50:33.234-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: Off-Season Position Discussion : First BaseHarperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-22336038607769821082018-10-19T09:44:29.358-07:002018-10-19T09:44:29.358-07:00I would prefer bringing Murphy back to any other i...I would prefer bringing Murphy back to any other idea. Murphy actually wants to win and doesn't give away at bats. I didn't get the impression he was angry with the trade. If anything I think he was a little sad to leave. I am more convinced than ever that Zim is part of the problem in DC. His whole - we play hard, we want to win, but sometimes we don't that's just baseball, we'll get try again next year is old. Janes article about how the Nats players have a reputation around the league as not being able to handle pressure is right on the money.Jaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-79195216198979801152018-10-14T12:14:35.798-07:002018-10-14T12:14:35.798-07:00apparently the unexpected nature and somewhat rapi...apparently the unexpected nature and somewhat rapid decision and timing of the deal fueled the speculation that he was or might be unhappy with the trade. i dont know if he was actually upset by it.CardinalXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16302101047571185852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-50132574517313114772018-10-12T12:47:50.210-07:002018-10-12T12:47:50.210-07:00What did Murphy have to be upset about? Seems like...What did Murphy have to be upset about? Seems like he would be grateful to be sent to a contender during a playoff race as opposed to staying here and counting down the days until vacation.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-39105256072529841142018-10-12T11:51:19.457-07:002018-10-12T11:51:19.457-07:00"Command and control" is military termin..."Command and control" is military terminology, more generally explained as a commander's authority and direction over his/her forces during a mission or campaign. <br /><br />Pitching isn't warfare, and a baseball doesn't follow chain of command. I think baseball men differentiate command and control because they think splitting hairs makes them sound smart. <br /><br />"Throwing strikes" and "putting the ball where you want it" means if you can't throw strikes you have no control. But if you drill a batter in the rib you were aiming for, you have command of your pitches. <br /><br />Baseball is a wonderful, complex sport. Pointy-headed pseudo-intellectualizing doesn't make it better. <br />SMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-46041111040490317992018-10-12T11:46:00.495-07:002018-10-12T11:46:00.495-07:00Ryan and PBN are right. Control can be thought of ...Ryan and PBN are right. Control can be thought of as an abbreviation of "control of the strike zone" meaning the pitcher stays ahead in the count.<br /><br />Command is something like "command of pitches," meaning the pitcher consistently hits the catcher's glove. Unfortunately you could swap the words in those expressions and there's no obvious difference in what they'd mean.<br /><br />Control without command means lots of pitches over the middle because the pitcher can't reliably hit the corners but throws lots of strikes anyway. I don't know whether command without control happens, because if you can hit your spots, just throw strikes ya dummy. Control is contained within command.Josh Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00524273388243642450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-6494054970833488422018-10-12T10:47:34.774-07:002018-10-12T10:47:34.774-07:00GCX - Never heard that before in regards to pitchi...GCX - Never heard that before in regards to pitching, as the two are often interchangeable in my experience. If I had to guess, control = ability to throw strikes. Command = ability to hit spots within the strike zone. I suppose the difference is a guy who doesn't walk a lot of guys has good control, but is constantly leaving the ball over the middle of the plate and gets hit around a bit, due to poor command.Ole PBNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-59465444794551643122018-10-12T10:38:29.691-07:002018-10-12T10:38:29.691-07:00control is more about just throwing strikes, comma...control is more about just throwing strikes, command is putting the ball where you want itRyannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-27458150228968525732018-10-12T09:51:51.249-07:002018-10-12T09:51:51.249-07:00Reading Chelsea Janes' article today, it sound...Reading Chelsea Janes' article today, it sounds like the Nats will be somewhat conservative in offseason spending (as they want to be well below the luxury tax line this time around), so they will likely do the backup LHB at 1st plan rather than the OOB Murphy plan.<br /><br />Random question: does anyone know the difference between control and command? I was reading the FG article on the Top 10 Nats prospects, and it had this to say about Nick Raquet:<br /><br />"His control is much better than his command, which is why he doesn’t strike out a lot of guys"<br /><br />G Cracka Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718297381010491862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-11567199820144387832018-10-12T09:08:25.360-07:002018-10-12T09:08:25.360-07:00that's the sense i got as well. that the unexp...that's the sense i got as well. that the unexpected trade all but soured any opportunity for Murph to come back. i mean, what did we really gain from losing him and Adams? apparently we didn't even save enough salary to get under the luxury tax which would likely increase any 2019 luxury impact and we lost a couple of very productive players. waaaaaCardinalXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16302101047571185852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-21057097130351372212018-10-12T07:53:26.455-07:002018-10-12T07:53:26.455-07:00I'm all for the Murphy plan as he was a fan fa...I'm all for the Murphy plan as he was a fan favorite and a stellar hitter during his time in DC. But part of me thinks that the way the trade went down, that he'd be less inclined to return here. Other than Aroldis Chapman going back to the Yankees, I can't think of a single guy who was traded by a team at the deadline and returned to said team during the offseason.Ole PBNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-57210030770144485542018-10-12T07:32:23.606-07:002018-10-12T07:32:23.606-07:00Gio pitching game 1 for Milwaukee. He'll prob...Gio pitching game 1 for Milwaukee. He'll probably throw a 2-hit shutout, right?Mr. Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00567685906834294396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-35790030209512667672018-10-11T10:06:45.544-07:002018-10-11T10:06:45.544-07:00I'm initially intrigued by the OOB idea but th...I'm initially intrigued by the OOB idea but think that $ is best spread across a number of needs (starting pitching, catcher, 'pen, middle infield depth) than paying a premium at 1B. The Lind/Adams plan has worked the last two years, in part, due to the devaluing of 1B in general. The last 2-3 years has seen quality options available on the cheap. I think this is a position that can be filled via stopgap solutions for several years (vs. a multi-year Murphy deal) and react with a permanent solution later if Soto's defense becomes too much of a liability in LF. <br /><br />Also, I can't find it now, but saw Nat's 1B stats for various plug-and-play solutions this year. Surprisingly competitive with rest of league, I think, even if with 3 players rotating through. NC_Nats_Fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-4825798627747884582018-10-11T09:07:44.534-07:002018-10-11T09:07:44.534-07:00MLB Trade Rumors has their arbitration estimates u...MLB Trade Rumors has their arbitration estimates up for the Nats with the number for Rendon looking a little light to me:<br /><br /><br /> Anthony Rendon – $17.6MM<br /> Tanner Roark – $9.8MM<br /> Trea Turner – $5.3MM<br /> Michael Taylor – $3.2MM<br /> Kyle Barraclough – $1.9MM<br /> Joe Ross – $1.5MM<br /> Sammy Solis – $900K<br /><br />I know it's not much in the larger scheme of things, but the Nats could probably just DFA Solis rather than bump him up a few hundred grand for stinking. The Bear Claw number looks like a fair gamble.<br />blovy8https://www.blogger.com/profile/06888192019412533415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-12291148645320120582018-10-11T09:02:23.305-07:002018-10-11T09:02:23.305-07:00"maybe bring in Difo as a defensive replaceme..."maybe bring in Difo as a defensive replacement in later innings as an option"<br /><br />As absurd as it may sound, not sure if I want Difo as a defensive replacement, even for Murphy. I can recall him making two late game defensive miscues. Recall the Chicago debacle that ended in a grand slam - Difo started the choking with an error in the ninth. There was also another game after that, can't recall which game, where a ninth inning Difo miscue allowed the opponent to tie the game. Fortunately for Difo, Zimmerman absorbed most of the bad p/r as he later struck out looking with the bases loaded after getting a favorable call the pitch before.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-4809226152681077972018-10-11T07:33:15.334-07:002018-10-11T07:33:15.334-07:00Welcome to DC, Bear Claw!
@Dezo "I suppose t...Welcome to DC, Bear Claw!<br /><br />@Dezo "I suppose the Nats could resign him to be their full-time 2B in 2019 (with the expectation being Kendrick at 2B and Murphy at 1B when Zim inevitably gets hurt) with the expectation he'd become full-time 1B in 2020?"<br /><br />Exactly! Makes sense to meG Cracka Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718297381010491862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-67605828575783261202018-10-11T04:37:27.429-07:002018-10-11T04:37:27.429-07:00Harper, in this analysis is Reynolds out of the eq...Harper, in this analysis is Reynolds out of the equation?Froggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05425616684415704428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-72244422855459565342018-10-11T03:54:32.272-07:002018-10-11T03:54:32.272-07:00Sooo, how about that Barraclough move, huh?Sooo, how about that Barraclough move, huh?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-2176145289396529272018-10-10T16:54:50.817-07:002018-10-10T16:54:50.817-07:00RIP
St. Louis Cardinals & Matt Adams.
C...RIP<br /><br /> St. Louis Cardinals & Matt Adams.<br /> Chicago Cubs & Daniel Murphy & Brandon Kintzler.<br /> Oakland Athletics & Shawn Kelley.<br /> New York Yankees & A. J. Cole.sslnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05853597641731504272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-3635723343882519782018-10-10T12:49:01.637-07:002018-10-10T12:49:01.637-07:00Nats pick up Kyle Barraclough for international sl...Nats pick up Kyle Barraclough for international slot money. He'll fit right in with the rest of the Nats pen, as he underperformed his career significantly in 2018. At least he's pretty cheap and had a pre-2018 track record of success (actually including early 2018) and the cost to get him was also low.<br /><br />I'd love to pick up Murphy since it's pretty clear he's healthy and hitting again. The only issues I can see would be whether he'd want to move off 2B and whether he'd be okay splitting time with Zim. I think he can find some team that would be happy to give him one or both of those things. I suppose the Nats could resign him to be their full-time 2B in 2019 (with the expectation being Kendrick at 2B and Murphy at 1B when Zim inevitably gets hurt) with the expectation he'd become full-time 1B in 2020?<br /><br />I can't see Bryce moving to 1B, though if nothing else he's one of the few people the team could get to play there that would make benching Zim for him a palatable clubhouse and PR move. Soto to 1B with an Eaton-Robles-Harper OF is interesting since he's definitely the worst of the four OF defensively and it gets all four in the lineup on a long-term basis. Zim in that scenario then becomes our Adams/Lind--the 1B/PH backup. But it requires moving him, hoping that he can learn the position--and if that's the case, the move should happen NOW so he has the whole offseason to work on his 1B defense since at that point the hope is that he becomes our Freeman/Rizzo/Votto/Goldschmidt for a long time going forward.DezoPenguinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-16030810247639526422018-10-09T20:10:53.697-07:002018-10-09T20:10:53.697-07:00Angel Hernandez is simply terrible. For MLB's ...Angel Hernandez is simply terrible. For MLB's sake I hope this is the last we see of him in the post season. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-36355227244960123192018-10-09T19:42:59.465-07:002018-10-09T19:42:59.465-07:00we dont have a bat that can equal his at 2b too. s...we dont have a bat that can equal his at 2b too. so Murphy would get his ABs. maybe bring in Difo as a defensive replacement in later innings as an option. move Murph to 1b to keep his bat in the game. there are options.CardinalXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16302101047571185852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-3202804759207488012018-10-09T15:47:53.536-07:002018-10-09T15:47:53.536-07:00Would love to have Murphy back but why would he co...Would love to have Murphy back but why would he come back and platoon with Zimm when he can join an AL team, play almost every game, and avoid wear/tear on his knees by not having to field most games?<br /><br />I think the Nats will be able to find a capable backup first basement along the lines of Adams and Lind. Zimmerman's brittleness is a great selling point. The Matt Adams/ Washington Nationals was a mutually beneficial relationship. The same style relationship can be done in 2019. A free agent can join the Nats on a one year contract, get tons of playing time as a backup first basemen (more so than any other backup first basemen in the league), prove he is starting material for subsequent years, and make the post season as a National or be rented to another team at the trading deadline. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-15318663749457210232018-10-09T12:10:20.940-07:002018-10-09T12:10:20.940-07:00i would be happy as a PiS if re-signing Murphy was...i would be happy as a PiS if re-signing Murphy was a possibility. but i got the impression (could be/hope i am wrong) that ship has sailed due to the abrupt trade to the Cubs. but i'd love love love Murphy's bat, clutchness (not a word i think) and active asst. hitting coach on the bench. can platoon at 2b/1b/dh/ph stretches the lineup and well... he's a hit machine. i hated letting him go for such a modest salary savings. also, if Harper IS returned (also love that st the right deal... not so happy if it means the team is hamstrung for the next half dozen years) i think there is a solution, not a problem. yeah, we'd have Soto, Robles, Taylor, Eaton and Harper in the OF. seems like a gluttony of OF's but what team doesn't want/need 4 quality OFs?? even without major injury, you're bound to get 70 starts just making up rest with the 4th player. Eaton is a beast. and affordable. unless someone offers a quality #3 or #4 SP at an equally or better contract... i say hold on make plans for an extension with Eaton. players like him dont grow on trees. and im not talking strictly the bat. that can have slumps and even an off year. but his gritty play. fiery attitude and eye for the strikezone make him an ideal leadoff guy. i'd almost prefer him at #2 though. Trea #1, Eaton #2, Rendon or Robles or Harper if he comes back... ok, i could go on forever. yeah, i want Daniel Hits Murphy back bigtimeCardinalXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16302101047571185852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-45407469466944509632018-10-09T11:58:50.921-07:002018-10-09T11:58:50.921-07:00SM, I agree. There are a lot of "if's&q...SM, I agree. There are a lot of "if's" to the Bryce-to-first scenario. Don't think it's likely but if Bryce really wants to sign with the Nats, it's one way it could play out, though more realistically you trade Eaton and get some pitching.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-65005806080331019762018-10-09T11:11:28.877-07:002018-10-09T11:11:28.877-07:00How much will Marwin Gonzalez cost? He'll be w...How much will Marwin Gonzalez cost? He'll be winner-y enough to satisfy some fans and you can plug him in everywhere.blovy8https://www.blogger.com/profile/06888192019412533415noreply@blogger.com