You know - like how part of the plan of getting down from an airplane in the sky is free-falling before you pull the ripcord. "Just land the plane" you say? Ha! Too easy!
Let's check on the Nats rule following yesterday.
1) Did they start Howie? since Kurt is still injured this is the only relevant "best lineup" question and the answer is NO they did not. They started Zimm instead. Zimm walked once but did not get a hit. Didn't leave anyone on base though since he didn't get up with anyone on but this is still a mistake.
2) Did they reasonably pull the starter? I think so. Strasburg had been struggling all game and was lucky to be at 99 pitches through 5. He had one strike out since the 2nd and was fooling no one. You could have pushed him with 6-7-8 up, but it was probably right to give Stras the rest of the night off rather than wait for a guy who didn't have it to make a mistake that forced you to pull him
3) Did they use their best relievers? Pulling Stras in the 5th means covering 4 full innings. If I were to pull the Nats four best relievers I'd say Hudson, Doolittle, Rodney, and I guess Strickland? Any way having pitched last night and 3 times in the previous 5 days should have kept Strickland on the bench unless absolutely needed so you had to fill it with someone. Suero is probably the choice but I understand being gun shy with him. Rainey was an ok choice then to take on 6-7-8 and he did the job. Doolittle was next to take on Wong and turn around Fowler and he mostly did ok walking Fowler but surviving 6 0-2 fouls to eventually get Wong. With two outs and Goldschmidt up the Nats had a choice in my mind. Let Doolittle try to get out Goldschmidt, who hits lefties well but doesn't crush them or bring in Rodney or Hudson now and try to get 4 outs against him (the pitcher spot making the last out last inning). Instead Hale brings in Strickland and he promptly blows the game. I don't get the logic of using Strickland there at all.
It's never been about winning this series - that would be a plus but can easily not happen - it's about not getting swept then using the Marlins and Phillies games to cement the WC. Unfortunately for the Nats the Brewers have made THAT run (11-3) and the Cubs have decided to go from terrible to very good again and now have a 9-5 run. But even still - with those two runs and the Nats fumbling to 5-9 run the Nats still lead the WC. And so it goes. Go 1-1 here - at the least hold on to a WC spot then go at least 5-3 in the next 8.
That doesn't sound like much but let's say they even lose a game to each the Cubs and Brewers despite going 1-1. Cubs 0.5 up on the Nats, Brewers 0.5 behind. Go 5-3 and you force the Cubs to go 4-3 to stay tied and you force the Brewers to do 5-2 to pass the Nats.* Easy schedule or not 5-2 is not given.**
Basically nothing has changed. The Nats do what they are supposed to do and the other teams need to step it up to knock the Nats out. Nats don't do what they are supposed to do and well then there's trouble.
Don't get swept. Beat the Marlins. Beat the Phillies. Don't get swept.
DON'T GET SWEPT.
*seems plausible but also it means that with the 2-0 in there to gain a game on the Nats the Brewers would be on a 18-4 run which if so - you can't do much about. Tip your hat is all.
**Also if the Cubs do better then the Cardinals suffer. Cards are up 1.5 on Nats now. 1-1 keeps them even. Cubs beat them 1-2 and Nats beat Marlins 2-1 and it's just a half game and they are dragged into the mix as well. Which is another way it can still work out for the Nats if the Cubs and Brewers surge past them
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I don't think the Nats are going to hang on. Might be on the outside looking in, come October.
* SSLN Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this post are not predictions. If opinions expressed in this post turn out to be incorrect, after the facts have been revealed, such opinions shall not be subject to "I told you so" trolling. *
I don't know why, given what I have endured as a Nats fan over the years, but I think we will be fine. Momentum is not on our side, but I think our team is solid enough to get this thing back on track. Let's do this thing!
In other news, I'm now feeling better about our decision to trade Felipe-then-Rivero.
But yes, baseball-wise, I do not understand Hale's decision to pull Doolittle for Strickland there. Doolittle is, when healthy, the best reliever on the team, he had two outs, he hadn't even allowed one hit, he wasn't missing the plate, and Goldschmidt isn't some "don't you dare let even Aroldis Chapman pitch to him!" lefty-killer. There's nothing about that decision that makes any sense at all, and it predictably cost the Nats.
@Max - I feel the same, and I'm not sure why...I suppose part of that vague feeling is that I like the Cards to beat the Cubs in the seven H2H matchups they have left this year to drop the Cubs out of the running...
We can second-guess the bullpen decisions all day, but the real problem is that the Nats only scored two runs, and their offense has generally been terrible the last 3 series (with a few exceptions).
This evening's line-up meets the Harper test: both Howie and Asdrubal are in. Way to go, Chip Hale!
If Howie and Asdrubal go zero for 8 the SSNL disclaimer rule does not apply.
Never been a fan of our TV announcers, but the Cards booth is insufferable. So much whining. So pessimistic and negative. After hearing how St. Louis is “pure class” for years.... I’m not sure it’s represented well in the booth.
You survive another series, Bob. Can’t believe I’m flipping the audio back to you... smh
Best thing to do for out of market fans is watch mlbtv and you can overlay the audio with the masn broadcast. there is an icon in right corner. Highly suggest this way to do it. Another curly W is in the books
@olePBN--I tried listening to the Cards radio guy the other night. I've never heard someone so irritated at having to describe a baseball game.
Entering today's games, the Nats have a Pythag of 86-64, and the Braves have a Pythag of 86-66.
See what happens when you follow the three simple steps? Only move I was worried about was bringing Pat back out for the sixth given the shaky command to end the fifth. But starter > reliever seems to be the tried and true rule for these Nats.
Let's get this daytime dub and beat up on the Fins! Scherzer on the bump, Rendon in it for the batting title...let's ride.
@Mr. T said...
@olePBN
I listen to the games on internet radio from Philadelphia. Out of curiosity I tune into other stations to see what they have. The Nats have good radio guys, and if you ever downed a case of beer while smoking pot all night watching a game with a friend, the Nat's TV guys are easy to take. Those Cardinal Radio guys however are the worst...
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