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***OFFICIAL*** Washington Nationals ongoing thread (1 Viewer)

I know teams don't really draft in baseball for immediate need but interesting the Nats used their 3rd and 4th rounders on a 22 year old 3B (college seniors drafted high don't typically stay in the minors for years and years) and Arkansas' great closer, who is thought to be near MLB ready.

 
Ramblin Wreck said:
I know teams don't really draft in baseball for immediate need but interesting the Nats used their 3rd and 4th rounders on a 22 year old 3B (college seniors drafted high don't typically stay in the minors for years and years) and Arkansas' great closer, who is thought to be near MLB ready.
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Does that mean they won't try to retain Rendon? 

 
I would not read too much into Rendon, as I don't think a 3rd rounder would dictate whether they re-sign him.  They could definitely use some MLB ready depth there regardless of what happens with Rendon.  They called up Jake Noll at one point this year, who is hitting around .230 in the PCL.

And Kendrick has been great, but someone will probably pay him starter money this offseason, which I don't think the Nats will do.  

 
Was yesterday the best thing that's happened to Nats fans since at least the HR Derby last year?   Can't remember anything better. Felt good to be emotionally invested in a baseball game again, it's been a while.

 
You can NOT put Rosenthal in a game against Atlanta when other options are available.  And can NOT leave him in there to walk four guys.  These games count twice since you either gain a game or lose a game in the standings.  

And then he puts tomorrow's starter in for the 8th inning.  Bullpen management of this team is just god awful.

 
Jonny Venters and Fernando Rodney   :lmao: ..  Okay I can see Venters but a 42 year old Rodney who has been as wild as Rosenthal.   :lmao:

And someone is being removed from the 40 man to make this happen.

 
When a team is winning nobody ever criticizes the manager, and I give Davey Martinez credit for how he manages the clubhouse and kept the team motivated after they fell 12 games under.  But his strategic mistakes haven't gone anywhere and are IMO a real concern.  For example on Saturday night Yam Gomes came to bat with two out and two men on and the Nats trailing 3-0 or 3-1 in the 6th inning, I believe.  Gomes has been atrocious offensively this season and especially lately, and the Nats had added a third catcher to the bench earlier in the day.  Why on earth would you let him hit there? Obviously it worked out OK, but I thought about it for like 15 minutes and couldn't come up with a single plausible explanation.

He also insists on keeping everyone else in the same spot in the order regardless of which 1B he uses, which means that when Adams starts the Nats send up their three lefties in the span of four batters. This may have cost the Nats yesterday's game- the heart of the order came up in the 8th with the game tied, and lefty reliever Adam Morgan shut them down. I know Soto is good against lefties but he's better against righties. I just don't get it.

 
Why on Earth would you remove Fedde after 6 last night when he had only allowed 5 hits, was getting a ton of ground balls, and his pitch count was 66?   And he was going to do the Suero, Rodney, Doolittle thing to close it out right before the most important series of the season where they must take 3 out of 4 and a sweep would be very nice.  The only positive thing is that the bullpen meltdown last night at least kept Rodney and Doolittle fresh going into the ATL series (and Rainey too).   Guerra is probably unavailable at least today and he won't use McGowin except in an emergency.   We need at least 7 from the starters this weekend.

 
Moving some of the Nats talk out of the trade deadline thread...  feels like they improved the bullpen, but nothing that moves the needle too much.  

Blazek and Guerra the odd men out so far.  One more move needed after Strickland passes his physical.  They created room on the 40 with Venters to the 60 day DL, so could send down someone with an option (like Rainey), or DFA Grace or Sipp and use the 40 man spot to give someone like Wil Crowe a shot over Fedde.

 
I left the game after the 11th inning. Took the Metro about five stops (including a transfer) to my car. Drove home to Alexandria. Game is still going on.

Somehow outdone by Jack White coming to the game, leaving to play a concert, and returning to the game.

 
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Boz column pretty dead-on today:  Dave Martinez did Sean Doolittle no favors, and now the Nats’ closer is on the injured list

I was a bit surprised (maybe surprised is not the right word) Martinez went to Doolittle there, and then did not pull him more quickly.  Hudson was warming up in the 8th with Rodney; so, he was already hot too.  When Doolittle struggled out of the gate, I told my friend that he did not have it tonight and they had to pull him out before he gave up the lead; no reason I should be able to tell that from my seats better than the manager.  Hopefully with a couple of weeks off, he can come back to form.

 
Absolutely massive sweep in Chicago. I believe the Cubs have lost only one other home series this season? Yesterday was particularly big with the Phils and Brewers also losing. BP tracks playoff odds and changes; they have the Nats gaining 3.7% yesterday alone and 15.9% over the last week.

Still have to get through one one more tough 13 game stretch in the schedule September 5-18. But if they can survive that they should be a lock to play in and hopefully host the Wild Card, and a home Wild Card game with a healthy Scherzer is as good as it gets in baseball without winning a division. 

All of the above was unthinkable less than three months ago.

 
TobiasFunke said:
Absolutely massive sweep in Chicago. I believe the Cubs have lost only one other home series this season?
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The first time they have been swept at home in a three-game series since 2017. The first time Washington has swept the Cubs at Wrigley Field since July 1-3 2005. Mark Prior was a losing pitcher in that series, and the immortal Joey Eischen won the series finale. I looked up the series at baseball reference. Jose Guillen had a huge weekend (I had no recollection of Vinny Castilla playing for Washington).

What made this weekend even worse was having it happen while missing Scherzer and Corbin. It also clearly demonstrated how the Nationals and Cubs are on opposite ends of two telling statistics: swinging at pitches out of the zone and contact rate. The Cubs are at top of the first stat, near the bottom in the second rate. It is reversed for Washington. They spent the whole series making Cubs pitchers throw strikes, and when they did, they whacked the ball everywhere. 

Cubs have not had a replacement-level leadoff man since Dexter Fowler. Washington has two dudes in Eaton and Turner who are high-level at the position.

Impressive team, Washington is. The only thing that might be an issue is, well, bringing in a 42 year-old Fernando Rodney in a high-leverage situation so he can try and get an 88 MPH fastball past Kyle Schwarber might be a sign of a not so-healthy bullpen. 

 
Encyclopedia Brown said:
The first time they have been swept at home in a three-game series since 2017. The first time Washington has swept the Cubs at Wrigley Field since July 1-3 2005. Mark Prior was a losing pitcher in that series, and the immortal Joey Eischen won the series finale. I looked up the series at baseball reference. Jose Guillen had a huge weekend (I had no recollection of Vinny Castilla playing for Washington).

What made this weekend even worse was having it happen while missing Scherzer and Corbin. It also clearly demonstrated how the Nationals and Cubs are on opposite ends of two telling statistics: swinging at pitches out of the zone and contact rate. The Cubs are at top of the first stat, near the bottom in the second rate. It is reversed for Washington. They spent the whole series making Cubs pitchers throw strikes, and when they did, they whacked the ball everywhere. 

Cubs have not had a replacement-level leadoff man since Dexter Fowler. Washington has two dudes in Eaton and Turner who are high-level at the position.

Impressive team, Washington is. The only thing that might be an issue is, well, bringing in a 42 year-old Fernando Rodney in a high-leverage situation so he can try and get an 88 MPH fastball past Kyle Schwarber might be a sign of a not so-healthy bullpen. 
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The plate discipline has been outstanding for this entire post-Memorial Day run. They don't walk all that much but they make everyone work, which comes in handy in the NL East where most teams have at least a couple great starters but everyone has bullpen issues.

In fairness to Davey the Nats were missing Doolittle and Roenis Elias out of the pen (losing Elias forces them to use Suero early against lefties because he has reverse splits), and Rodney has been hitting 97 and sometimes effective. But yeah, I don't like the idea of relying on him in any high leverage situations during the stretch run or potential playoff games. If Doo comes back and is effective I assume Rodney will eventually be bumped to depth/spot duty.

Also FWIW I don't think the series was all that meaningful for the Cubs even without Scherzer and Corbin because the Nats kill lefties. Team OPS is 50 points higher against LHP. So the Nats were lucky to catch all three Cubs lefties and miss Hendricks (who I assume they'd face in a possible wild card game). Hendricks has always been a tough matchup for us.

 
TobiasFunke said:
The plate discipline has been outstanding for this entire post-Memorial Day run. They don't walk all that much but they make everyone work, which comes in handy in the NL East where most teams have at least a couple great starters but everyone has bullpen issues.

In fairness to Davey the Nats were missing Doolittle and Roenis Elias out of the pen (losing Elias forces them to use Suero early against lefties because he has reverse splits), and Rodney has been hitting 97 and sometimes effective. But yeah, I don't like the idea of relying on him in any high leverage situations during the stretch run or potential playoff games. If Doo comes back and is effective I assume Rodney will eventually be bumped to depth/spot duty.

Also FWIW I don't think the series was all that meaningful for the Cubs even without Scherzer and Corbin because the Nats kill lefties. Team OPS is 50 points higher against LHP. So the Nats were lucky to catch all three Cubs lefties and miss Hendricks (who I assume they'd face in a possible wild card game). Hendricks has always been a tough matchup for us.
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Definitely one of the key benefits to winning is that they can lock up the Wild Card and hopefully do enough to ease Doolittle back into it and try to get him back into form, without needing to use him too much down the stretch.  The fact that the Braves keep winning too means division probably going to stay out of reach. Roster expansion should help with giving rest too.

What's been pretty remarkable about the past month or so is they have done it mostly without Scherzer, Doo, Elias, and Zim.  And all are expected to be able to go in October, assuming no setbacks (Max obviously back already.)  I'm not even sure what they do with Zim at this point with the way Howie and Adams have been playing.

 
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Don Quixote said:
Definitely one of the key benefits to winning is that they can lock up the Wild Card and hopefully do enough to ease Doolittle back into it and try to get him back into form, without needing to use him too much down the stretch.  The fact that the Braves keep winning too means division probably going to stay out of reach. Roster expansion should help with giving rest too.

What's been pretty remarkable about the past month or so is they have done it mostly without Scherzer, Doo, Elias, and Zim.  And all are expected to be able to go in October, assuming no setbacks (Max obviously back already.)  I'm not even sure what they do with Zim at this point with the way Howie and Adams have been playing.
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If it wasn't for the coming roster expansion I'm not even sure how they'd make room for him on the active roster.  Send down Fedde I guess. 

Says a lot about the job Rizzo has done scrounging the bargain bin for depth over the course of the season after it was such a huge problem in April and May.

 
Don Quixote said:
Holy crap... Of course I turned off the TV after the top of the 9th.  
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Me too. Thank God for twitter, got back just in time for the Zim double.

MLB has an extended highlight video, including all the pitches of Suzuki's AB, here. Can't hyperlink it directly for some reason- click the 3:48  "Must C" video at the bottom.

 
A couple of weeks ago, I did not think that this Marlins series would be important, but hoping Marlins’ pitching can cure what ails the Nats’ bats.

And hopefully the Cards decide not to go easy on the Cubs this weekend. Could use a bit of space in the WC race.

 
What's more important?  Going all in for the last 5 games to get home field against Milwaukee or rest the god dang bullpen that Davey still hasn't learned his lesson doing?  Rainey has pitched 6 times in last 8 days, Rodney 4 of the last 5 days , Strickland 3 out of 4 days, Hudson 3 games in 2 days, and Suero had gone 3 straight days recently.  But Doolittle has pitched 1 time 9 days?  

Who starts the wildcard game?  Have a feeling it's going to be Max but it's gotta be Strasburg, right?  Even Corbin has been pitching better than Max the last two months.

 
Ramblin Wreck said:
What's more important?  Going all in for the last 5 games to get home field against Milwaukee or rest the god dang bullpen that Davey still hasn't learned his lesson doing?  Rainey has pitched 6 times in last 8 days, Rodney 4 of the last 5 days , Strickland 3 out of 4 days, Hudson 3 games in 2 days, and Suero had gone 3 straight days recently.  But Doolittle has pitched 1 time 9 days?  

Who starts the wildcard game?  Have a feeling it's going to be Max but it's gotta be Strasburg, right?  Even Corbin has been pitching better than Max the last two months.
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I think I'd go for resting the bullpen.  Home game is slight advantage, but I feel like giving the bullpen some much needed rest comes out in front of that.

Davey's comments suggest Max.  Agree with him not being the best lately though.

...I like Rendon, but kind of annoyed by his fan shaming last night.  It feels like athletes/beat writers/etc. sometimes forget that 95% of the population has more traditional M-F jobs that make it hard to get out there during the week.

 
Wander suero not on tonight’s roster?  But all four starters are?   Only 5 other pitchers the way he rolls through these guys?  We need both MAT and Stevenson tonight?

 
Ramblin Wreck said:
Wander suero not on tonight’s roster?  But all four starters are?   Only 5 other pitchers the way he rolls through these guys?  We need both MAT and Stevenson tonight?
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They’re throwing  the kitchen sink at them tonight and not using the pen in a traditional way

 
Don't have time to wonder if Max can get out of this.  Time to put Strasburg in or put Corbin is and if the game gets tight or they take the lead then put Strasburg in 

 
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Juan Soto will be getting Bryce money.  Hope we can afford him

Now the really scary part.  Our bullpen   :scared:

That was the Nationals equivalent of that Skins vs Cowboys Monday Night game where the Skins were awful and lifeless about 95% of the game and two plays later winners. 

 
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That was the most amazing high stakes baseball game I’ve ever been at. I went absolutely nuts.

They’re gonna beat the Doyers 

 
I likely have two, possibly four tickets to Game 3 available at face value if anyone is interested. Sec 113 Row K, $131 apiece.  Send me a PM, or just email me if you are one of the unfortunate posters who knows me IRL.

 
Has anyone had such a terrible series and produce in the most important moment like Howie freaking Kendrick

I don't care if they are up 4, this bullpen scares the #### out of me   :scared:   :scared:

We are playing with house money now.   Beating the best team in the National League and maybe even the whole league is enough for me.   But damn I would love to beat the Cardinals

 
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People say I should hate the Nationals, but I've never blamed them or the people of DC for what happened to the Expos.

A little payback for Blue Monday a mere 38 years in the making.

Congrats, guys! Keep it up.

 
Happy to just win a series, anything else is gravy. The Cards are my “family” team so this should be fun. Nats need a pen, can’t keep wearing out these starters.. but it’s worked in a pinch before

 
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

Now to spend the rest of the day reading and watching clips of highlights with Charlie and Dave edited over them.

One story I haven't seen covered much so far- Tanner Rainey and Patrick Corbin were excellent in their combined two innings. Since it became clear that the Nats would make the postseason, the #1 story has been how will they cover the innings between the starters and Doolittle/Hudson.  Rainey and Corbin (and by extension Davey) were better than anyone could have reasonably hoped.

 
TobiasFunke said:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

Now to spend the rest of the day reading and watching clips of highlights with Charlie and Dave edited over them.

One story I haven't seen covered much so far- Tanner Rainey and Patrick Corbin were excellent in their combined two innings. Since it became clear that the Nats would make the postseason, the #1 story has been how will they cover the innings between the starters and Doolittle/Hudson.  Rainey and Corbin (and by extension Davey) were better than anyone could have reasonably hoped.
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Yeah, Rainey and Corbin were great.  I know there was some Twitter questioning of leaving Corbin in there at the time, but sticking with him worked out and he got the job done.  I was calling for Davey Martinez to get fired in the middle of the WC game for not pinch-hitting when they were down, but he clearly out-managed Roberts in the series.

I'm in work on my first day back from vacation after maybe 5 hours of sleep the past two nights (due to early flight yesterday morning).  Worth it. Stick the coffee into my veins.

 
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I have nothing but mad respect for the Cardinals franchise but I hope you guys win the series.  You've had the talent for several years now so it would be nice to see it finally pan out.  Also, I don't think the Cardinals have the guns to make a series against the Yanks or Astros.  The Nationals could hold their own and possibly win the series against either team.  Good luck!

 
fred_1_15301 said:
And as a Juan Soto owner for 2 more years in a keeper league, all I can say is.        :thanks:
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Yeah, I was pretty nervous about Soto earlier this year.  He was having trouble in April/May adjusting to pitchers' adjusting to him (seeing less fastballs and more offspeed pitches).  He definitely quieted those concerns of mine. 

 
Huge game by Sanchez.  Amazing to steal that one down Hudson, not having to spend starters in relief, and a couple of regular starters out, in relatively easy fashion.

 
Has Harper tweeted and Kudos out to his former team?

Was happy to watch Sanchez have a great outing last night.  I always liked Sanchez in Detroit and he had some good years in Detroit even though the last 2 were pretty ugly.  Amazed at how he revitalized his career.

I am rooting for Washington from here on in. 

 
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