***OFFICIAL*** Washington Nationals ongoing thread (2 Viewers)

[Ramblin Wreck]

Dillon Gee could win a Cy Young award if he faced the Nats every week.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Dillon Gee could win a Cy Young award if he faced the Nats every week.

They shelled him a few times at the end of last season, but yeah, it's really weird how bad he makes them look. Today they seem to just be hacking away after some early success working counts.

I hope Strasburg's velocity issues are just the cold weather. Offspeed stuff looks amazing but if it's only working off 92 that's a problem.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Ramos just got pinch hit for? Any word on why?

 

[Don Quixote]

Ramos just got pinch hit for? Any word on why?

Just following along on Twitter, but reporters were unsure. Some mentioned that he took a foul ball off him earlier, but they don't know if connected.

 

[SoCalBroncoFan]

This Rendon kid looks pretty good.

 

[oso diablo]

Ramos = broken hand

 

[Don Quixote]

Ramos = broken hand

Williams said in his post game that x-rays were negative. Seeing a specialist tomorrow though.

 

[Swing 51]

Nice to see our old friend John Lannan helping us out

 

[tdog]

Ramos = broken hand

Williams said in his post game that x-rays were negative. Seeing a specialist tomorrow though.

Knorr said on the Junkies this morning that he hopes for the best but . . . Hamate bone issue possibly. According to Knorr (who sounded a bit hungover) Ramos hurt it on a swing, prior to getting hit by the foul ball. He sees a hand specialist today.

 

[Marvelous]

Roster pretty much set except backup catcher, right?

C - Ramos + a backup

1B - Laroche + Moore

2B - Rendon

SS - Desmond

3B- Zimmerman

Backup INF - Espinosa

OF - Harper, Werth, Span, McLouth and Hairston

SP - Strasburg, Gio, Zimmermann, Fister, and someone amongst Detwiler, Roark and Jordan

RP - Storen, Clippard, Soriano, Stammen, Blevins, one more righty (Ohlendorf?) and one more lefty (could be Detwiler)

C - Ramos + Lobaton

1B - Laroche + Moore

2B - Rendon

SS - Desmond

3B- Zimmerman

Backup INF - Espinosa & Kevin Frandsen

OF - Harper, Werth, Span, McLouth and Hairston

SP - Strasburg, Gio, Zimmermann, Fister, and someone amongst Detwiler, Roark and Jordan either Roark or Jordan

RP - Storen, Clippard, Soriano, Stammen, Blevins, Detwiler, and Aaron Barrett one more righty (Ohlendorf?) and one more lefty (could be Detwiler)

So only thing left to decide is Roark vs Jordan? Bullpen looks set and the Frandsen signing rounds out the bench with Tyler Moore heading back to the minors.

Most teams need the 6th pitcher for big portions of the year. I have the feeling that Fister is going to have issues all year. Lat strains have derailed seasons for pitchers before.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Roster pretty much set except backup catcher, right?

C - Ramos + a backup

1B - Laroche + Moore

2B - Rendon

SS - Desmond

3B- Zimmerman

Backup INF - Espinosa

OF - Harper, Werth, Span, McLouth and Hairston

SP - Strasburg, Gio, Zimmermann, Fister, and someone amongst Detwiler, Roark and Jordan

RP - Storen, Clippard, Soriano, Stammen, Blevins, one more righty (Ohlendorf?) and one more lefty (could be Detwiler)

C - Ramos + Lobaton

1B - Laroche + Moore

2B - Rendon

SS - Desmond

3B- Zimmerman

Backup INF - Espinosa & Kevin Frandsen

OF - Harper, Werth, Span, McLouth and Hairston

SP - Strasburg, Gio, Zimmermann, Fister, and someone amongst Detwiler, Roark and Jordan either Roark or Jordan

RP - Storen, Clippard, Soriano, Stammen, Blevins, Detwiler, and Aaron Barrett one more righty (Ohlendorf?) and one more lefty (could be Detwiler)

So only thing left to decide is Roark vs Jordan? Bullpen looks set and the Frandsen signing rounds out the bench with Tyler Moore heading back to the minors.

Most teams need the 6th pitcher for big portions of the year. I have the feeling that Fister is going to have issues all year. Lat strains have derailed seasons for pitchers before.

It helps that it was categorized as a "minor" strain. Strasburg had a minor lat strain last season and he was only on the DL for the minimum 15 days.

 

[Marvelous]

Roster pretty much set except backup catcher, right?

C - Ramos + a backup

1B - Laroche + Moore

2B - Rendon

SS - Desmond

3B- Zimmerman

Backup INF - Espinosa

OF - Harper, Werth, Span, McLouth and Hairston

SP - Strasburg, Gio, Zimmermann, Fister, and someone amongst Detwiler, Roark and Jordan

RP - Storen, Clippard, Soriano, Stammen, Blevins, one more righty (Ohlendorf?) and one more lefty (could be Detwiler)

C - Ramos + Lobaton

1B - Laroche + Moore

2B - Rendon

SS - Desmond

3B- Zimmerman

Backup INF - Espinosa & Kevin Frandsen

OF - Harper, Werth, Span, McLouth and Hairston

SP - Strasburg, Gio, Zimmermann, Fister, and someone amongst Detwiler, Roark and Jordan either Roark or Jordan

RP - Storen, Clippard, Soriano, Stammen, Blevins, Detwiler, and Aaron Barrett one more righty (Ohlendorf?) and one more lefty (could be Detwiler)

So only thing left to decide is Roark vs Jordan? Bullpen looks set and the Frandsen signing rounds out the bench with Tyler Moore heading back to the minors.

Most teams need the 6th pitcher for big portions of the year. I have the feeling that Fister is going to have issues all year. Lat strains have derailed seasons for pitchers before.

It helps that it was categorized as a "minor" strain. Strasburg had a minor lat strain last season and he was only on the DL for the minimum 15 days.

My error. I was thinking of oblique strains. I don't know squat about lat strains. Or maybe I do know squat. Hard to tell which one shows less knowledge.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Roster pretty much set except backup catcher, right?

C - Ramos + a backup

1B - Laroche + Moore

2B - Rendon

SS - Desmond

3B- Zimmerman

Backup INF - Espinosa

OF - Harper, Werth, Span, McLouth and Hairston

SP - Strasburg, Gio, Zimmermann, Fister, and someone amongst Detwiler, Roark and Jordan

RP - Storen, Clippard, Soriano, Stammen, Blevins, one more righty (Ohlendorf?) and one more lefty (could be Detwiler)

C - Ramos + Lobaton

1B - Laroche + Moore

2B - Rendon

SS - Desmond

3B- Zimmerman

Backup INF - Espinosa & Kevin Frandsen

OF - Harper, Werth, Span, McLouth and Hairston

SP - Strasburg, Gio, Zimmermann, Fister, and someone amongst Detwiler, Roark and Jordan either Roark or Jordan

RP - Storen, Clippard, Soriano, Stammen, Blevins, Detwiler, and Aaron Barrett one more righty (Ohlendorf?) and one more lefty (could be Detwiler)

So only thing left to decide is Roark vs Jordan? Bullpen looks set and the Frandsen signing rounds out the bench with Tyler Moore heading back to the minors.

Most teams need the 6th pitcher for big portions of the year. I have the feeling that Fister is going to have issues all year. Lat strains have derailed seasons for pitchers before.

It helps that it was categorized as a "minor" strain. Strasburg had a minor lat strain last season and he was only on the DL for the minimum 15 days.

My error. I was thinking of oblique strains. I don't know squat about lat strains. Or maybe I do know squat. Hard to tell which one shows less knowledge.

Unfortunately all Nats fans know at least a little bit about Lat strains. That's also what kept Morse out of action for 2+ months in 2012. Lot of variance in recovery time it seems.

Hamate bone injuries seem pretty predictable, at least. Sounds like Ramos back some time in May. I've heard people say that they sap power for quite a while, though, so that's a concern. Thank God for the Karns-Lobaton trade. Lobaton's an above-average defensive receiver and he won't be an automatic out like Solano or Leon.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Could someone here please go through the formality of putting Ramos on the DL?

TIA

 

[Don Quixote]

So, I guess Williams heard the complaints, and decided the problem was Harper and Desmond were too high in the lineup. Okay then.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Ugh, Game 2's lineup is worse than Game 1.

Span CF,

Rendon 2B,

Werth RF,

LaRoche 1B,

Zimmerman 3B,

Harper LF,

Desmond SS,

Lobaton C,

Gonzalez P

 

[tdog]

Ugh, Game 2's lineup is worse than Game 1.

Span CF,

Rendon 2B,

Werth RF,

LaRoche 1B,

Zimmerman 3B,

Harper LF,

Desmond SS,

Lobaton C,

Gonzalez P

I defended the game 1 lineup, but this is getting surprising. Will each game be a complete reshuffle?

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Ugh, Game 2's lineup is worse than Game 1.

Span CF,

Rendon 2B,

Werth RF,

LaRoche 1B,

Zimmerman 3B,

Harper LF,

Desmond SS,

Lobaton C,

Gonzalez P

I defended the game 1 lineup, but this is getting surprising. Will each game be a complete reshuffle?

Looks like it's hit a home run and move up 3+ spots. Switch Harper and Laroche. Switch Desmond and Rendon and I'm fine with it.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Ugh, Game 2's lineup is worse than Game 1.

Span CF,

Rendon 2B,

Werth RF,

LaRoche 1B,

Zimmerman 3B,

Harper LF,

Desmond SS,

Lobaton C,

Gonzalez P

I defended the game 1 lineup, but this is getting surprising. Will each game be a complete reshuffle?

Looks like it's hit a home run and move up 3+ spots. Switch Harper and Laroche. Switch Desmond and Rendon and I'm fine with it.

I'd bat Werth 2nd, Harper 3rd, and LaRoche 4th. Nice to have Harper sandwiched by two guys who walk a lot.

Nice to have this problem, besides Harper hitting 3rd I think I'd be agreeable to almost any combination.

 

[Eephus]

Ugh, Game 2's lineup is worse than Game 1.

Span CF,

Rendon 2B,

Werth RF,

LaRoche 1B,

Zimmerman 3B,

Harper LF,

Desmond SS,

Lobaton C,

Gonzalez P

I defended the game 1 lineup, but this is getting surprising. Will each game be a complete reshuffle?

Looks like it's hit a home run and move up 3+ spots. Switch Harper and Laroche. Switch Desmond and Rendon and I'm fine with it.

I'd bat Werth 2nd, Harper 3rd, and LaRoche 4th. Nice to have Harper sandwiched by two guys who walk a lot.

Nice to have this problem, besides Harper hitting 3rd I think I'd be agreeable to almost any combination.

Werth should bat leadoff. The marginal value of the 10 extra SB that Span will get are more than offset by Werth's superior OBP.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Ugh, Game 2's lineup is worse than Game 1.

Span CF,

Rendon 2B,

Werth RF,

LaRoche 1B,

Zimmerman 3B,

Harper LF,

Desmond SS,

Lobaton C,

Gonzalez P

I defended the game 1 lineup, but this is getting surprising. Will each game be a complete reshuffle?

Looks like it's hit a home run and move up 3+ spots. Switch Harper and Laroche. Switch Desmond and Rendon and I'm fine with it.

I'd bat Werth 2nd, Harper 3rd, and LaRoche 4th. Nice to have Harper sandwiched by two guys who walk a lot.

Nice to have this problem, besides Harper hitting 3rd I think I'd be agreeable to almost any combination.

Werth should bat leadoff. The marginal value of the 10 extra SB that Span will get are more than offset by Werth's superior OBP.

mouth it.

/werthowner

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Ugh, Game 2's lineup is worse than Game 1.

Span CF,

Rendon 2B,

Werth RF,

LaRoche 1B,

Zimmerman 3B,

Harper LF,

Desmond SS,

Lobaton C,

Gonzalez P

I defended the game 1 lineup, but this is getting surprising. Will each game be a complete reshuffle?

Looks like it's hit a home run and move up 3+ spots. Switch Harper and Laroche. Switch Desmond and Rendon and I'm fine with it.

I'd bat Werth 2nd, Harper 3rd, and LaRoche 4th. Nice to have Harper sandwiched by two guys who walk a lot.

Nice to have this problem, besides Harper hitting 3rd I think I'd be agreeable to almost any combination.

Werth should bat leadoff. The marginal value of the 10 extra SB that Span will get are more than offset by Werth's superior OBP.

mouth it.

/werthowner

Yeah they could bat Span 8th, he's really better suited for that spot on this team. Rendon takes walks also, he could lead off or hit second behind Werth.

 

[Don Quixote]

After the seeing the results so far, I'm done criticizing Williams' lineups. For now, anyway.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Ugh, Game 2's lineup is worse than Game 1.

Span CF,

Rendon 2B,

Werth RF,

LaRoche 1B,

Zimmerman 3B,

Harper LF,

Desmond SS,

Lobaton C,

Gonzalez P

I defended the game 1 lineup, but this is getting surprising. Will each game be a complete reshuffle?

Looks like it's hit a home run and move up 3+ spots. Switch Harper and Laroche. Switch Desmond and Rendon and I'm fine with it.

I'd bat Werth 2nd, Harper 3rd, and LaRoche 4th. Nice to have Harper sandwiched by two guys who walk a lot.

Nice to have this problem, besides Harper hitting 3rd I think I'd be agreeable to almost any combination.

Werth should bat leadoff. The marginal value of the 10 extra SB that Span will get are more than offset by Werth's superior OBP.

Absolutely agree, but it's hard to get upset about something that every other team in the league does too. Even Choo is good for 20 steals a year.

Also Werth gets pissy when they bat him first or second I think, he feels like he's still got pop and that somehow means he doesn't belong there. Werth gets pissy about a lot of things.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Fun stat that someone mentioned last night, maybe it was Bob and FP: Harper has 1,1000 plate appearances in his career and is still currently the youngest player on any 25 man roster. When Profar comes off the DL he'll be the youngest.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Ugh, Game 2's lineup is worse than Game 1.

Span CF,

Rendon 2B,

Werth RF,

LaRoche 1B,

Zimmerman 3B,

Harper LF,

Desmond SS,

Lobaton C,

Gonzalez P

I defended the game 1 lineup, but this is getting surprising. Will each game be a complete reshuffle?

Looks like it's hit a home run and move up 3+ spots. Switch Harper and Laroche. Switch Desmond and Rendon and I'm fine with it.

I'd bat Werth 2nd, Harper 3rd, and LaRoche 4th. Nice to have Harper sandwiched by two guys who walk a lot.

Nice to have this problem, besides Harper hitting 3rd I think I'd be agreeable to almost any combination.

Werth should bat leadoff. The marginal value of the 10 extra SB that Span will get are more than offset by Werth's superior OBP.

Absolutely agree, but it's hard to get upset about something that every other team in the league does too. Even Choo is good for 20 steals a year.

Also Werth gets pissy when they bat him first or second I think, he feels like he's still got pop and that somehow means he doesn't belong there. Werth gets pissy about a lot of things.

Kolko interviewed Werth on the field after the game last night and it was just awkward. Couldn't tell if Werth was stoned, being a ####, just has no personality at all or all of the above.

 

[Grahamburn]

Zim still can't throw, eh?

 

[Don Quixote]

Looks like JZimm scratched today.

ETA: Just flu-like symptoms.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Looks like JZimm scratched today.

ETA: Just flu-like symptoms.

Strasburg gets opening day, Zimm gets the home opener, Nats get to throw both of them at the Braves this weekend. Everybody wins. Good job, virus.

 

[JZilla]

So who's pitching Saturday?

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Is Zimmermann pitching tomorrow? It would go Roark, Zimm, Strasburg, Jordan. Otherwise, I think it goes Roark, Jordan, Strasburg, Zimmermann.

 

[Don Quixote]

Is Zimmermann pitching tomorrow? It would go Roark, Zimm, Strasburg, Jordan. Otherwise, I think it goes Roark, Jordan, Strasburg, Zimmermann.

I think that is TBD based on how he is tomorrow (at least, I haven't seen any announcement so far). Jordan would be on normal rest tomorrow, but Zim would probably pitch if he's up for it.

 

[tdog]

Last year Soriano was problematic enough in save situations and just terrible in non-save situations, where he seemed completely uninterested. 2 Ks, a single, and a ground out today--not bad.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Last year Soriano was problematic enough in save situations and just terrible in non-save situations, where he seemed completely uninterested. 2 Ks, a single, and a ground out today--not bad.

They looked tremendous 1 to 25 this series. Only guy I can think of who is struggling is Harper at the plate and he hit a fly ball out to the wall and a hard single off the pitcher today at least. Started 3-0 last year too so hard to get excited yet, but this felt different. Chased three decent starters before the 7th, made almost no mistakes, put up 22 runs in 3 games.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Last year Soriano was problematic enough in save situations and just terrible in non-save situations, where he seemed completely uninterested. 2 Ks, a single, and a ground out today--not bad.

They looked tremendous 1 to 25 this series. Only guy I can think of who is struggling is Harper at the plate and he hit a fly ball out to the wall and a hard single off the pitcher today at least. Started 3-0 last year too so hard to get excited yet, but this felt different. Chased three decent starters before the 7th, made almost no mistakes, put up 22 runs in 3 games.

Not to rain on your parade, but they just swept the Mets.

The Mets.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Last year Soriano was problematic enough in save situations and just terrible in non-save situations, where he seemed completely uninterested. 2 Ks, a single, and a ground out today--not bad.

They looked tremendous 1 to 25 this series. Only guy I can think of who is struggling is Harper at the plate and he hit a fly ball out to the wall and a hard single off the pitcher today at least. Started 3-0 last year too so hard to get excited yet, but this felt different. Chased three decent starters before the 7th, made almost no mistakes, put up 22 runs in 3 games.

Not to rain on your parade, but they just swept the Mets.

The Mets.

Well yeah, but they outscored 'em 22-10 on the road.

Also I don't think the Mets will be that bad this year. Maybe 75ish wins? The bullpen can't be that awful all year.

 

[Don Quixote]

Looks like Zimmermann is a go for today.

I'm happy today is the last weekday afternoon start for awhile. Only been able to watch one game so far.

 

[Swing 51]

Looks like Zimmermann is a go for today.

I'm happy today is the last weekday afternoon start for awhile. Only been able to watch one game so far.

I think next Thursday is a 4:05 start - early happy hour

 

[Don Quixote]

Looks like Zimmermann is a go for today.

I'm happy today is the last weekday afternoon start for awhile. Only been able to watch one game so far.

I think next Thursday is a 4:05 start - early happy hour

I must have missed that one when I was looking at the schedule. I guess one early start next week is still better than the three this week.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Ryan Zimmerman

 

[tdog]

Ryan Zimmerman

They claim no structural damage to the shoulder and no pain when he swings. but the hacks he took on Sunday as a PH looked terrible. Time to needle up again and get through the year before retiring to 1B next year.

Great to be back at the ballpark though.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Ryan Zimmerman

They claim no structural damage to the shoulder and no pain when he swings. but the hacks he took on Sunday as a PH looked terrible. Time to needle up again and get through the year before retiring to 1B next year.

Great to be back at the ballpark though.

I usually disagree with Boswell when he writes about strategy instead of his normal flowery baseball love, but I agree 100% about moving Zimm to first when they face lefties, giving them a tremendous platoon split at 1B. Between that and sitting Zimm on occasion against righties you can take his throwing out of the equation for a good half a season. Then just hope for the best when he's out there. The bat is too good to use once a game, and he can still make some of the throws, just not the deep ones.

 

[Eephus]

Arthritis

 

[Don Quixote]

Arthritis

Today, Williams saying it is "degenerative" rather than "arthritic," which I guess is supposed to sound better, but it just seems semantics.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Arthritis

Today, Williams saying it is "degenerative" rather than "arthritic," which I guess is supposed to sound better, but it just seems semantics.

We need what, maybe 80 more games out of him at 3B? Play him at 1B vs lefties, DH in AL parks, maybe give him some days off when groundball guys like Fister and Jordan are pitching, and you get through the season OK.

I like that they're letting him experiment with sidearm throws today, he always used to throw it that way. More guys beat out ground balls because the ball doesn't whip across the diamond but at least they don't end up in the seats.

 

[pollardsvision]

Hey, if you guys need a third baseman, you might be able to get the Blue Jays to part with Juan Francisco.

 

[Don Quixote]

Arthritis

Today, Williams saying it is "degenerative" rather than "arthritic," which I guess is supposed to sound better, but it just seems semantics.

We need what, maybe 80 more games out of him at 3B? Play him at 1B vs lefties, DH in AL parks, maybe give him some days off when groundball guys like Fister and Jordan are pitching, and you get through the season OK.

I like that they're letting him experiment with sidearm throws today, he always used to throw it that way. More guys beat out ground balls because the ball doesn't whip across the diamond but at least they don't end up in the seats.

Yeah, hopefully they can limit him at 3B to help with the issues.

In the past, I would have been extremely worried, but I agree that I'm not too worried about it this year. Espinosa's looking a lot better, which takes a lot of pressure off all four regulars needing to start every day, and permits a lot more flexibility with the lineup.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Woah, WTF Zimm?

 

[Swing 51]

Well that didn't turn out like I expected after the JZimm debacle. One of the most exciting games I can remember, even though it is April.

Good call walking Rendon to get to Werth

 

[Don Quixote]

Well that didn't turn out like I expected after the JZimm debacle. One of the most exciting games I can remember, even though it is April.

Good call walking Rendon to get to Werth

Yeah, great game. At around 8:00, I was depressed that both DC games that I was looking forward to were both blowouts. Would have been nice for the Wizards to pull off the comeback too, but I'll take 1/2 and two exciting games to watch.