tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post48941774999158465..comments2023-10-20T04:28:04.547-04:00Comments on Nats320 -- A Washington Nationals Blog: Strange NightScreech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-69965325748331707252008-09-10T17:35:00.000-04:002008-09-10T17:35:00.000-04:00Hey: what I liked about last night's game at S...Hey: what I liked about last night's game at Shea - Nats need to play interesting ball, giving us hope about the young guys overall, BUT CONTINUE TO LOSE. I am concerned about San Diego and Seattle winning the Strasburg sweepstakes. <BR/><BR/>Looks at the moment like we may have three nice young midfielders to bring to Spring Training next year to compete hard for at most two slots on the roster: Hernandez; Gonzalez; and Bonifacio. First two did very well last night - Boni did not play. <BR/><BR/><BR/>If we traded Rauch and Ayala for two quality great defense & speed, decent hitting young enthusiastic mid-fielders, then it will have been worth it. Neither Rauch nor Ayala strike me as true closers - both good set-up guys.<BR/><BR/>And same for Hanrahan - not a closer, in my view - but, holds promise to replace Rauch and Ayala as reliable set-up guy. I am still hoping that Cordero returns to Nats in that position for '09 - may be a pipedream, however.<BR/><BR/>Bergmann has lost his rhythm and does not look like a bull-pen pitcher to me, as an alternative to starter. Estrada, Manning are minor leaguers. Shell and Mock hold some promise for '09. And Rivera has been golden since the Nationals moved here, really - his aggregate number of appearances and their quality overall very impressive.<BR/><BR/>Who are the reliable starters for '09? Right now, I do not think that you can pencil in Lannan or Ballester or Redding as anything beyond a 3-4-5 on a decent team. As mentioned, most suspect Hill is done, and Bergmann certainly regressed in August-September. So - are they hoping and praying for two of the rookies - the Dutchman and Mr. Two N's - to fill out the rotation? If so, that means another year of praying for 5-6 quality innings virtually every game, and then going heavy on the relief corps...What a difference it would make to have an actual number One or even a legitimate number Two in the Nats rotation.<BR/><BR/>Until that day, even if the offensive line-up were to take the next great step forward in 2009, with health and one proven power hitter added to its middle, it will still be difficult to finish .500.<BR/><BR/>Trust in The Mouse That Roared. All Ironic.SenatorNathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10049860385485455410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-4557278299668767812008-09-10T17:03:00.000-04:002008-09-10T17:03:00.000-04:00Jorge Julio was the worst relief pitcher in the hi...Jorge Julio was the worst relief pitcher in the history of baseball until Marco Estrada showed up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-83248615223265852502008-09-10T16:59:00.000-04:002008-09-10T16:59:00.000-04:00Wbere in the world did Bowden pick up this relief ...Wbere in the world did Bowden pick up this relief pitcher named "Estrada"? He is even worse than Jorge Julio.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-29918749861358903642008-09-10T00:11:00.000-04:002008-09-10T00:11:00.000-04:00We score 8 runs and lose???? The guys really show...We score 8 runs and lose???? The guys really showed what they were made of to mount a nice comeback that came a little short!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com