tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post4703130495433022196..comments2024-03-27T19:05:25.362-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: Holiday Q&A 2 : The HoliDay AfterHarperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-87647374217010772182016-12-30T19:49:35.057-08:002016-12-30T19:49:35.057-08:00Fair enough :D Happy New Year to all!Fair enough :D Happy New Year to all!John C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-48533986840795814742016-12-29T16:31:15.929-08:002016-12-29T16:31:15.929-08:00...and a Happy New Year to you too John C!...and a Happy New Year to you too John C!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-74805497665302755852016-12-29T08:15:55.315-08:002016-12-29T08:15:55.315-08:00^^^Reading comprehension not your thing, eh?^^^Reading comprehension not your thing, eh?John C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-56842404873883444982016-12-28T18:18:39.051-08:002016-12-28T18:18:39.051-08:00Isn't this a Nats blog?Isn't this a Nats blog?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-47957724287684849652016-12-27T14:21:35.959-08:002016-12-27T14:21:35.959-08:00The 1970's team was Gabe Paul's team - the...The 1970's team was Gabe Paul's team - the 1975 pennant proved that they could win without George's flash. Reggie was a major add, of course, but Gossage wasn't even there for the 1977 World Series title (I'll never forget Sparky Lyle's magnificent multi-inning relief effort in WS Game One in back of Don Gullet). Hunter was a mainstay of the rotation but after 1975 was never the "ace" (even in 1977, that title properly went to Guidry). Martin pretty much blew Hunter's arm out in 1975, pitching him an amazing (even then) <i>328</i> innings. In the field, the core of that team was Nettles, Rivers, Munson, Randolph (all of whom finished with more rWAR than Jackson; Jackson was second behind Nettles and <i>just</i> ahead of Rivers, Munson and Randolph by fWAR) and the ever-underappreciated Roy White. Even beyond them, players like Lou Pinella and Bucky Dent were more than solid contributors. Jackson got all of the headlines and adulation, but IMHO the Big Stein's impact was overrated. <br /><br />Yeah, I am discounting an era from 1982-1992 when the Yankees might have won a couple of wild cards in the current format. Overall they won 97 games in 1985, but just in the AL East finished 2nd twice, 3rd twice, 4th once, 5th three times, and <i>7th</i> once during that time span. Given the amount of money they were pouring into their team compared with the rest of the league, that's a shockingly bad return on investment. They weren't pouring money out to go from good to great, they were pouring money out so they could vary between lousy and mediocre. Getting George out of the picture is what enabled the team to build the 1996-2001 dynasty and the essential core of the team that lingered through the rest of the aughts (although your point about the aughts generally is fair; the Yankees won a spitload of games and made the playoffs every year until 2008). But think about the "Core Four" or even the position players around them - Williams, Martinez, O'Neill, Brosius. <br /><br />I'd argue that the team has actually been worse than it's record the past three years thanks to Joe Girardi. Again, the payroll is misleading because the talent isn't really there. They've managed win totals in the mid 80's despite being significantly outscored in three of the past four seasons. How Girardi does it I just don't know - but almost no one notices because of the payroll.John C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-1074403109729933912016-12-27T09:24:44.220-08:002016-12-27T09:24:44.220-08:00JC - George was suspended (never in jail) for basi...JC - George was suspended (never in jail) for basically just the 1975 season, Paul made several key trades during that time but it was the combination of those moves, guys in place before, and money spent by George (Catfish, Reggie, Gossage) that made the team winners. And while his money never got them a championship after 81 to the next suspension it almost always kept them in contention including a 97 win season. You can piece together a way they could have been better during that time without crazy spending - but it takes near perfect vision on who to trade for, who not to give up and who to sign. Now it did culminate in the crash of the team in 1989 which could have been avoided but now you are talking about a time when George was being pulled away. It's doubtful he would have allowed the team to crater. Does that mean the Core 4 never develop? Perhaps, perhaps not. You probably lean toward at least one of them being traded but then you probably have another signing. Strawberry? Bonilla? You are also poo-pooing a decade long run of success that would have amounted to a couple more playoff appearances at least in the modern format. <br /><br />After that things get more stable - George cam e back in 93 and basically allowed things to develop as they were, sure post 2003 they don't get to a series until 2009 but they were in the playoffs which I think you've argued before is the point. <br /><br />I think the lesson is successful teams are generally built by a mix of factors. Most sensibly letting a good GM do their job then having an ownership that allows them the funds to compete for the last couple pieces they need is arguably the best method. You can though spend yourself into some level of constant success but each successive win is more and more expensive so it's hard to spend yourself into constant division championships, and the playoffs are random enough that it's impossible to spend yourself into a series. You can maximize your chances (and sometimes you should - just getting in and getting in as a favorite is an important distinction) but that's it Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-8858392675566638912016-12-27T07:51:49.305-08:002016-12-27T07:51:49.305-08:00Off-topic (and back to baseball): any chance the ...Off-topic (and back to baseball): any chance the LA Angels will take RZim? Move Pujols to DH. Angels have already taken Espinosa and Revere. We've got one more guy we need to unload. (I'm not being serious here, but one can always hope. That said, it's hard to be angry at RZim, who was the very likable face of the Nationals since the franchise moved to DC, and he provided the Nats with many years of very good baseball.)PotomacFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17479027458024348671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-5361681025306004592016-12-27T06:07:11.472-08:002016-12-27T06:07:11.472-08:00Jay, the ownership question is an easy one, simply...Jay, the ownership question is an easy one, simply because the "crazy, win at all costs" ownership doesn't really work. Snyder is just one obvious example. A lot of people hold up the Yankees' George Steinbrenner as the counter, but I will note that there is a solid argument that the most successful Yankee teams were built while George was out of the picture. In the 1970's Gabe Paul built the core of the 1976-1981 dynasty while George was in jail for campaign finance crimes. Then George took over and the Yankees spent a pile of money and won bupkiss for over a decade. George gets suspended from baseball for hiring a known gambler to spy on his own player (Dave Winfield) and Gene Michael builds the core of the 1995-2003 dynasty. Another bout of big spending George keeps the team in the playoffs, but no titles until 2009. Which I would argue was largely the result of George's failing health keeping him from meddling with Brian Cashman. Fortunately for those who hate the Yankees, Hank Steinbrenner has also shown distinct meddling tendencies (remember the Soriano press conference, where Cashman essentially said "it's not my fault!").<br /><br />There are many examples of activist owners that have mismanaged their franchises. Steady ownership is a key to success.John C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-45383443650788043342016-12-26T10:05:27.474-08:002016-12-26T10:05:27.474-08:00Everyone knows that ridiculous sports discussions ...Everyone knows that ridiculous sports discussions come up every year at various family holiday get togethers. One came up at ours. It's sort of loosely based on two of the Washington area teams. Would you rather have a crazy, win at all costs owner of the Nats (think Dan Snyder) or an owner that tries to run the franchise in a more respectful/classy way (aka Lerner's)? You might win a WS sooner with the crazy owner, but he may churn through players and treats other poorly. The Lerners have built a very good team, but they don't sign every big free agent or make huge trades. Anyway, it pains me to write this bc I have complained about the Nats lack of getting Sale or McCutcheon this year, but I prefer the Lerners style of ownership.Jaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-20886591138665911852016-12-22T20:17:54.181-08:002016-12-22T20:17:54.181-08:00I love calling her Lacey Sherbet as much as I like...I love calling her Lacey Sherbet as much as I like calling him Matthew Mahagony. Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-21179732145935725372016-12-22T15:02:53.539-08:002016-12-22T15:02:53.539-08:00I believe there is a mystery science theater 3000 ...I believe there is a mystery science theater 3000 aspect to the viewing of these movies. Yuletide, you'll cry, you'll wish you had more bourbon, when Lacey Sherbet's Maybellene contract is somehow broken just one week before Christmas!blovy8https://www.blogger.com/profile/06888192019412533415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-64439800558110816832016-12-22T11:00:36.884-08:002016-12-22T11:00:36.884-08:00Re: "Recommend an introductory volume or two ...Re: "Recommend an introductory volume or two on baseball analytics for those, such as myself, who are stats curious, but not SAS programmer-types."<br /><br />I still think "Baseball Between the Numbers" (https://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Between-Numbers-Everything-About/dp/0465005470) from Baseball Prospectus holds up as the best introductory volume on sabermetrics/analytics on the market.Wookiee of the Yearnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-85423817697355108602016-12-22T09:56:06.680-08:002016-12-22T09:56:06.680-08:00@Harper, nah. Single day. Bryce absolutely could h...@Harper, nah. Single day. Bryce absolutely could have gone to part of winterfest if he'd wanted to. Ultimately the only real reason he wasn't there is going to boil down to "I didn't feel like it." But one day at least he had a legitimate religious reasons not to be there.Josh Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00524273388243642450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-58030347138954305282016-12-22T09:03:42.889-08:002016-12-22T09:03:42.889-08:00Have the Nationals been trying to sell the naming ...Have the Nationals been trying to sell the naming rights to Nats Park?1natsfannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-78715638219736952342016-12-21T18:00:17.472-08:002016-12-21T18:00:17.472-08:00About Christmas movies. Can I pretend that Star Wa...About Christmas movies. Can I pretend that Star Wars 7 and Rogue One are Christmas movies? Especially since it looks like Disney is going to make it a Christmas tradition to release a movie every December.JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482308758790559807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-37892121875023813652016-12-21T13:00:08.741-08:002016-12-21T13:00:08.741-08:00What is your favorite Christmas Carol?What is your favorite Christmas Carol?Bryceroninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-83675463842746900632016-12-21T12:03:30.043-08:002016-12-21T12:03:30.043-08:00Josh Higham - Fair enough - does it take two days?...Josh Higham - Fair enough - does it take two days? Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-5493305440998228452016-12-21T10:34:49.170-08:002016-12-21T10:34:49.170-08:00Tidbit of Mormon knowledge that relates to the Win...Tidbit of Mormon knowledge that relates to the WinterFest no-show: Before you can be married in a Mormon/LDS temple, you've got to participate in a ceremony called the endowment. Rule of thumb is that people under 25 only participate in that ceremony if they serve missions (not Bryce) or get married. In the latter case, the endowment usually takes place about a week before the wedding. If Bryce and Kayla both got endowed on the Saturday before the wedding in San Diego, he would have been legitimately committed weeks or months in advance. (source: my own endowed, temple married self)<br /><br />Since Bryce has shown in the past that he doesn't really care about WinterFest, it would surprise me zero to learn that he scheduled it deliberately to conflict. It was probably an accident, but it wouldn't be in character to change his plans for an event he doesn't want to go to.Josh Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00524273388243642450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-56125641653305851652016-12-21T09:11:30.964-08:002016-12-21T09:11:30.964-08:00Didn't the wedding coincide with NatsFest?Didn't the wedding coincide with NatsFest?JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482308758790559807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-60182098035472839862016-12-21T08:15:35.150-08:002016-12-21T08:15:35.150-08:00Do you think most or all Nats were invited to Bryc...Do you think most or all Nats were invited to Bryce's wedding, or just his good friends? Loved the pictures of a non-smiling Jayson Werth. Was not surprised that the DC Strangler was not there. Was surprised the Ian Desmond was there. And I admit that this is all kind of silly. But then, sports is entertainment, no?PotomacFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17479027458024348671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-44599770546213583252016-12-21T07:13:09.476-08:002016-12-21T07:13:09.476-08:00Yankees were pretty good post trade deadline. Do t...Yankees were pretty good post trade deadline. Do they have a shot at second place in the division? JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482308758790559807noreply@blogger.com