tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post6150124678676756970..comments2023-10-20T04:28:04.547-04:00Comments on Nats320 -- A Washington Nationals Blog: Firsts From Early This MorningScreech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-14886282769726906282009-06-11T14:44:41.205-04:002009-06-11T14:44:41.205-04:00"On paper, no one would trade our line-up for..."On paper, no one would trade our line-up for the Reds, for example, yet the Reds are only one loss more than Central leading Brewers, with 16 more wins than Nats."<br /><br />The problem with our lineup is that it's not consistent from day to day. How can any manager expect his players to play together as a team when his team looks different from one day to the next? Manny should pick a lineup and stick with it through thick and thin - at least for long enough for it to become clear who can do the job and who can't. Manny idolizes both Joe Torre and Terry Francona, yet picture how Manny would handle the Manny Ramirez/Juan Pierre situation in LA and the Ortiz situation in Boston. Acta would be platooning Ramirez and Pierre once Manny's suspension is over, and he'd be absolutely refusing to move Ortiz down in the batting order no matter how badly he hits. Either that, or he'd be leading him off.<br /><br />I think Manny's failure to put together a consistent lineup is a big reason for this season turning into extended spring training. Last year he could claim injuries as the excuse for doing that, but not so now. It's all on him. Maybe that's where Manny Acta should be managing for the Nats next yesr - extended spring training in Florida. I'm sure his wife would welcome the opportunity to have him home for dinner every night!An Briosca Morhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06855174362787324401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-91537092919230407922009-06-11T11:53:26.163-04:002009-06-11T11:53:26.163-04:00I hope those firsts were at least some reward for ...I hope those firsts were at least some reward for your dedication to the Nats this year. I have to admit, I left after the rain delay started but regretted the move as soon as I saw the game start up again once I was home and then go into extra innings.<br /><br />Hopefully the rain will hold off for this afternoon's game but the forecast isn't too great.Bryanhttp://baseballinwashington.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-45696487036206660882009-06-11T11:48:41.047-04:002009-06-11T11:48:41.047-04:00In 2009, MLB held its longest Spring Training ever...In 2009, MLB held its longest Spring Training ever. Nationals elected by necessity to extend theirs to include the entire regular season. The rain delays and the fact that we have grown accustomed to games ending with several hundred in attendance is a metaphor for what is going to be the longest trudge of a season in baseball history. <br /><br />Nats on track to win 42-43 games based on their overall record; extrapolating their last 23 games, however (3-20), they could conceivably win as few as 35!! The Amazing Mets of 1962 will then look like a juggernaught!<br /><br />I have been beating my drum that this is the best starting line-up ever for a team destined to lose 110 or more games in the modern era. On paper, no one would trade our line-up for the Reds, for example, yet the Reds are only one loss more than Central leading Brewers, with 16 more wins than Nats.<br /><br />Nats will put a line-up on the field today, presuming Hernandez and Nieves start that hits about .260 with some power. Compare this to last year's team at this point which averaged 20 points lower and carried virtually no power.<br /><br />They added two more errors last night and a passed ball and left two more runners in scoring position with less than two outs: I am convinced that they are on record-setting pace for errors; wild pitches; passed balls; and runners left in scoring position with less than two outs.<br /><br />The team's overall pitching seems to have steadied however: starters are going 5-7 innings regularly with quality starts, and some in the bullpen are darn-right reliable. <br /><br />Yet, there is a sense that the Nats cannot win in the major leagues - that every game is the equivalent of pitting a college team v. a MLB team. You can sense it as a fan.<br /><br />I am beginning to vacilate on the wisdom of firing Acta in the middle of this lost season - the longest Spring Training ever, if you will. It may just contribute to the sense of the Lost Colony. But, if you were the manager, and you finally decided to try Williamham in right for the first time in his baseball life, would you also put no-range Belliard at second, and no-catch Bard behind the plate (DH Dunn is in left!)? While the line-up did not cost the Nats in the field (Josh's error did not hurt), one still wonders if Manny is going to be a good manager for the Nationals...<br /><br />Wilbon's column today criticizing the selection of Strasburg shows he should leave baseball writing to others: 1. Boz already chronicled the high-risk, low reward track record of "can't miss" starter picks; 2. Nats cannot get a lot of everyday players they purportedly need in lieu of drafting Stasburg - it ain't the NFL draft, where you can trade down to get quantity. Indeed the first 12 MLB picks were virtually all pitchers, as it was a pitcher heavy draft, according to the combined scouting consensus.<br /><br />Nats spending $22.5 million in signing bonus for Strasburg, as I have explained, is already paid for by the savings on Kearns, Young, Belliard, Cabrera next year and not signing Crowe last year. Note that Storen took $1.6 million, a big reason Boone and others could convince brass he was best at 10 pick, which is $2.5-4 million less than Crowe wanted last year, I am sure. He intends to wear flat brim and pitch this year at Nationals Park - and he will. He is the cleanest-cut closer ever!<br /><br />Trust in Spring Training. It Happens Every Summer. And pray for sun!SenatorNathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10049860385485455410noreply@blogger.com