tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post5953174161490433712..comments2023-10-20T04:28:04.547-04:00Comments on Nats320 -- A Washington Nationals Blog: The Big TeaseScreech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-51265316099603397992009-05-20T22:08:12.482-04:002009-05-20T22:08:12.482-04:003 losses to the Pirates! The gawd-awful, haven't h...3 losses to the Pirates! The gawd-awful, haven't had a winning season in 16 years Buccos!?!<br /><br />0-7 on the homestand, with 0-11 a near certainty?<br /><br />Can we just wake up and start over?<br /><br />This is a nightmare. I keep thinking it's rock-bottom, then the Nats sink ever lower.<br /><br />I fear we may be seeing the worst team in major league baseball history. It makes one wonder if baseball in DC is, somehow, forever doomed to dismal, total failure.<br /><br />Still, I'm insane and inane, I'll never stop rooting for them as long as they are in DC, but I'm really frightened it may not be much longer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-29884954198709096882009-05-20T16:22:58.957-04:002009-05-20T16:22:58.957-04:00Postcript:Reading may be fundamental, Manny, but m...Postcript:Reading may be fundamental, Manny, but managing isn't always by the book, and this team's peculiar dichotomy is demanding some innovation - if not, Clifford may be Going to Washington, just as Manny is Departing. He is certainly a very decent guy, but he needs to rise to an interesting challenge presented here, rather than merely waiting it out. Should team lose 30 before winning 15, clock should start ticking...Go For It, Manny.<br /><br />Trust in Eddie Jordan's ability to adjust to the abject weakness of his teams. And young managers.SenatorNathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10049860385485455410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-17201891190096217362009-05-20T15:04:45.534-04:002009-05-20T15:04:45.534-04:00There are some emerging very positive notes to sou...There are some emerging very positive notes to sound following last evening's loss for our Nats, whose slogan may soon be: "They are a small fan-based team, but there are those who love them..." (apologies to Daniel Webster and Dartmouth College.)<br /><br />First, two very evenly matched small city-styled teams squared off and played error-free ball with hustle and a keen desire to win. Both had young small-salaried starters going 6 innings, giving up virtually the same number of hits, each walking and striking out two. The line: 8-8-0 v. 5-8-0, with game tied after regulation 5-5, about as even as it can be in baseball. So - in this game, where Nats bullpen in regulation was lights out for 3 innings, normalacy reigned.<br /><br />It would be the little things that would prevent the Nats from finally winning a game, like Cintron and Kearns once more failing as pinch-hitters. Managing matters, but Kearns almost delivered despite his proven inability to hit in the clutch, or to hit.<br /><br />Fortunately, Cintron finally demoted (ridiculous post-game commentary by Manny that it had nothing to do with his 1-20 PH'ing - that we just needed to add an 8th person to the bullpen); and Justin Maxwell coming up to split time with excellent utility man Willie Harris. along with Jason Bergmann, finally, can only help.<br /><br />The team's offensive numbers are realtive to 2008 mind-blowing: leading the NL in hits, on-base %, 43 HR's, .280 team average, 6.1 runs per game!! If we were told that this would be the situation back in March, but that the team would be 11-27 at this point, we would not have believed it possible. Two more WP's last night put our totals at some 15 to go with 41 errors and about 30 UER's - that and the almost 6.0 ERA for the pitchers as a group, and astronomical nearly 7.0 for relievers, puts team on track to win fewer games than last year!<br /><br />Yet, looking at the emergence of Anderson Hernandez, who is close to raising his average to .290 and who looks like a potential leader in the field and enthusiastic fan favorite; the performance of both our number 1 and number 2 catchers, to go with The Natural Nick Johnson's surrealistic return to eclipse his career best thus far; Guz hitting out of his mind; Z-Man realizing all his potential, seemingly, as the ink dries on his five year contract; and Dunn better than expected, coupled with now 4 young starters who could quickly win the hearts and minds of true Nats fans, it seems like we are so close as to taste it.<br /><br />Are we really only a truly positive savvy manager away from respectability and a platform for longterm success? I foresee Justin Maxwell performing very well up here, adding to Dukes as part of the nucleus of the longterm powerful Nationals in NL East. He seems a winner.<br /><br />Can Manny get this team turned on to its promise - can he reflect the very best and brightest aspects of this squad? Can he go with the 4 youngsters through 7 innings every time out, despite the game situation, to steady the course, and develop the team's rhythm. Can he stop feeling sorry for himself seemingly? And can he take Bergmann out of the dog house, and put him in for now as the 5th starter, bagging Cabrera. If the bullpen is the singular coefficient drag, then reduce its function - at least players would know the deal going into the game. You could actually reduce the number of relievers, adding a starter, in contrarian fashion, with a change in philosophy.<br /><br />Cintron is gone: Cabrera is a foregone conclusion, which delay only torments loyal fans further. When Florio back, another flop, Bard goes, too, thank goodness. Lets Go Nats.<br /><br />Tim Foli, come on up, and grow up with the Nationals future, at their helm.<br /><br />Trust in small-marketness. All fresh.SenatorNathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10049860385485455410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-55465523994451711592009-05-20T14:57:08.720-04:002009-05-20T14:57:08.720-04:00"Not many on hand in the announced crowd of 18,579..."Not many on hand in the announced crowd of 18,579 didn't believe victory for Washington was surely at hand."<br /><br />Anybody who has spent any time in NatsTown knows that Our Team has a unique way of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Any other major league ball club and that would be a true statement, but for a Nats fan, when there is a runner on second in a tie game in the bottom of the ninth, the odds of winning are slim to none.Assistant Deputy Adviser to the Undersecretary of NatsTown!!!!noreply@blogger.com