tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post875842157670789521..comments2023-10-20T04:28:04.547-04:00Comments on Nats320 -- A Washington Nationals Blog: So DeservingScreech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-91505946351452367312007-08-25T21:42:00.000-04:002007-08-25T21:42:00.000-04:00Batting average is an incredibly overrated statist...Batting average is an incredibly overrated statistic. In tonight's line-up, for instance, you'd have to consider Logan the seventh best offensive player, ahead of only Schneider and the pitcher.paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683734720896529408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-5199760173698961342007-08-25T19:32:00.000-04:002007-08-25T19:32:00.000-04:00SBF, I very respectfully, but strongly, disagree w...SBF, I very respectfully, but strongly, disagree with you about Logan.<BR/><BR/>The key thing to remember is that Nook has always been a much better right handed hitter. In fact, his lifetime average hitting RH is .298. That's far better than "premier" CFers like Rowand, Hunter, Edmonds and Beltran.<BR/><BR/>The old switch-hitting Nook is gone. Now we've got one of the best CFers in the game. Let's appreciate him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-47410376413866617892007-08-25T15:46:00.000-04:002007-08-25T15:46:00.000-04:00Well, in reading the online version of the WaPo ga...Well, in reading the online version of the WaPo gamer, I did get the answer to what Manny was thinking. To paraphrase, he said that up by only four at Coors Field with the heart of the order coming up, he treats it as a save situation and wants his best guy in there. I can buy that reasoning, but still wonder why AT THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT Cordero was the best guy. (Hey, I'm in SBF's blog, so I can use the caps lock key, okay?) It's not a save situation by definition, so if Manny doesn't bring Chad in it's not a slight to him. And admittedly Cordero had been having some problems with location of his fastball recently, and Manny must have known that. Why bring him in to work out those problems in a game, when you have a bullpen full of other guys at your disposal? Ever heard of "playing the hot hand"? Manny apparently doesn't like to do that, for better or worse.<BR/><BR/>Also, before you get too spun up, please note that I'm not one of those calling for getting rid of Cordero because he's blown a few saves. Rather, I'm just saying that there were signs there before the ninth last night that might have pointed against using Cordero as the automatic choice to close out the game in a non-save situation.<BR/><BR/>20/20 hindsight, of course. Is there any other kind? Hopefully Manny will use his own 20/20 hindsight to at least influence his foresight a bit in the future. He's a rookie manager, doing a good job, but hopefully still learning too.An Briosca Morhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06855174362787324401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-56607461117815004082007-08-25T14:54:00.000-04:002007-08-25T14:54:00.000-04:00I posted this at the Nationals Journal, but I'll t...I posted this at the Nationals Journal, but I'll take a leaf from An Briosca Mor/Sect. 419 and repost here: <BR/><BR/>Cordero went down in flames last night (August 24, in the 6-5 loss to the Rockies). Agreed. But does one bad outing undo the record of 119 saves in 142 tries? Or being the second youngest pitcher in MLB history to record 100 saves? <BR/><BR/>Last night was embarrassing. (and also ugly) Agreed. But is it worse than Rivera blowing a save against Baltimore on the 13th and giving up three earned runs against Baltimore on the 15th? Or Wagner and Hoffman both blowing saves in Thursday's game in NY? Or Hoffman's three blown saves since August 10th? Or, for that matter, the August 12th game from the Diamondbacks point of view, when their bullpen and closer gave up two leads and allowed us to win?<BR/><BR/>Cordero doesn't look or pitch like Papelbon. Agreed. But are we remembering that the Red Sox were rumored to be trading for Cordero when Papelbon said he thought he might do better in the starting rotation...because he was fatigued after 59 games and 68 innings pitched in 2006? (Compare to Cordero's 62 games and 61 innings pitched when there are roughly 33 games to go.)<BR/><BR/>We will remember last night for a long time. Agreed. But can we either try to think like the Nationals ball players and say today is a new ballgame, (and we plan to move on), or remember to do a quick look at the long term stats and story lines?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-34780459419667097422007-08-25T14:16:00.000-04:002007-08-25T14:16:00.000-04:00This was a bad one no question, I was actually kin...This was a bad one no question, I was actually kinda surprised Hill was taken out of the game, was he on a pitch count? I wanted to see this year's first Nat CG last night, Hill didn't seem tired at all, and his stuff was outstanding... Oy. I can only hope the Nats find the fire and fight back tonight...<BR/><BR/>As for Carpenter, I have him on a botch count every night. I think he averages about 4-5 per game, whether it's calling the wrong player at the plate, to missing the out count, to the aforementioned calling the play before the play, etc... And then you get to his bonehead commentary, case in point last night:<BR/><BR/>When Robert Fick tagged the runner at first instead of just going to the bag, Carpenter said along the lines of "Now, I have NO IDEA why Fick didn't just go to the bag" (said very adamantly)...<BR/>Sutton (and this is why I absolutely LOVE Sutton) immediately jumped in and said "I'll tell you why..." and proceeds to point out that Robbie in his wisdom neeeded to keep himself facing home plate the whole time to keep the runner on third, and not simply go to the bag, thus turning his back to home.<BR/><BR/>At that point, I wanted to give a standing O to the commentary, as it was a great double-play by Sutton: First, for calling out (can I say it here?) "Crapenter" like he should (it seemed at that point even he might've had enough of him), and secondly for EXPLAINING why Fick did what he did. It's those nuggets of "behind the scenes" info that I cherish, and will continue to do so. I was wondering somewhat why Fick did what he did as well, I thought it was simply due to his momentum on the play, and Sutton filled in the gaps. He rocks, and as I said on a previous comment, we need to keep him for a long, long time, hands down.<BR/><BR/>C'mon Nats & Redding, BRING IT!<BR/><BR/>Cheers, and happy (hopefully!) baseball.Bang the Drum Natlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07213808473792642631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-11080050748076758372007-08-25T13:33:00.000-04:002007-08-25T13:33:00.000-04:00Although it was the Chief who threw the pitches, I...Although it was the Chief who threw the pitches, I have to place much of the blame for last night's loss on Manny Acta. Cordero did not need to be in the game. It wasn't a save situation, so the argument needn't be made that the closer should pitch the ninth because that's what closers are for. It couldn't be argued that Cordero needed the work, since he had just pitched the night before in Houston. In fact, even though he picked up the save that night, he did not look sharp in doing so. So why not bring in someone else last night? Ayala threw only 10 pitches in the eighth, so why not leave him in to pitch the ninth? Or why not Colome, or Rauch, or someone else? After all, it was not a save situation. So what was it in Manny's head that said "Chad is the best man for this job tonight"? I really wonder...An Briosca Morhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06855174362787324401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-90356953940645594622007-08-25T12:29:00.000-04:002007-08-25T12:29:00.000-04:00Um...Manny has said he won't judge anyone based on...Um...Manny has said he won't judge anyone based on a bad outing or two. See Logan, Nook; Chico, Matt; Lopez, Felipe; etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-85560926167729991912007-08-25T12:10:00.000-04:002007-08-25T12:10:00.000-04:00Phil: Yeah, It was a perfect Jorge Julio Scenario....Phil: Yeah, It was a perfect Jorge Julio Scenario.Screech's Best Friendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-22368229820546415262007-08-25T11:25:00.000-04:002007-08-25T11:25:00.000-04:00Chizzle = Cordero????Chizzle = Cordero????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-78140516271103075772007-08-25T11:15:00.000-04:002007-08-25T11:15:00.000-04:00congrats, your team is a total embarressment you t...congrats, your team is a total embarressment you toolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-30772950319859209562007-08-25T11:06:00.000-04:002007-08-25T11:06:00.000-04:00I had a weird premonition about last night. I kep...I had a weird premonition about last night. I kept thinking, as the lead was widening, and we statistically have the best bullpen since July 1, why don't I feel comfortable? I think the bullpen ERA is deceiving because a lot of times our pitchers are working from behind with less pressure (and the other team is less desperate). Also, we have a lot of decent pitchers in the bullpen, with a great pitching coach, but no one to nail down the eighth and ninth innings consistently. I think Manny has got to come to the conclusion between now and next year, that if the team is really going to the next level, he might have to let go of his old friends, Chad and Jon. As much as I love Chad and will never forget his run in 2005, something needs to change.paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683734720896529408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-44602767408603187992007-08-25T11:01:00.000-04:002007-08-25T11:01:00.000-04:00The Chief did the best Jorge Julio immitation I ha...The Chief did the best Jorge Julio immitation I have ever seen. The Nats should have dumped him while he still had some value.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-4159301496801509062007-08-25T10:09:00.000-04:002007-08-25T10:09:00.000-04:00Cordero definitely crashed and burned last night. ...Cordero definitely crashed and burned last night. But, counterintuitive as it may be, Baseball Reference says his career ERA is 2.84 at home, 2.44 away, and his career HR's are 21 at home and 17 away. If he continues to work on an offspeed pitch (as he has been this season) and stays away from a predictable first pitch fastball, he may be ready to adapt to a new ballpark.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-16939955266501139192007-08-25T08:33:00.000-04:002007-08-25T08:33:00.000-04:00VERY disappointing loss. I have to admit though S...VERY disappointing loss. I have to admit though SBF, that Nook was everywhere tonight, running down several gappers with precision. Though inconsistent throughout the season, he has shown enough recently that he could be a good guy to keep around off the bench with speed, defensive skills and some pop in his bat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-56969318511531587492007-08-25T02:03:00.000-04:002007-08-25T02:03:00.000-04:00I wonder what's in store for Chad in the new ballp...I wonder what's in store for Chad in the new ballpark. I've heard speculation that it's anticipated to slightly favor pitchers, but one won't know until the games begin. I doubt it will be nearly as pitcher-friendly as RFK. <BR/><BR/>I fear that next year the Chief may be providing more examples reflecting tonight, being a fly ball pitcher, in the new park.Jim Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389688524746052643noreply@blogger.com