Going Deep with The Nats

In 2015, the Washington Nationals acquired Max Scherzer in a way that looked reminiscent of how George Steinbrenner would add to his Yankees rosters in an abundance of riches. The one lesson is that you are never guaranteed a World Series win even if you have the best statistical roster. It was Nats’ team owner, Ted Lerner, who was nearly 90 years old at the time, and he gave a gift to Nats’ fans by signing a right-handed pitcher to the largest contract ever in the form of Max Scherzer. It took four years to deliver a World Series with Scherzer.  Continue reading →

Photo by the Washington Nationals

This is an afternoon game on a getaway day for both teams. The Washington Nationals need to win this one to salvage a game from this series. The Braves have relied on a grand slam in each game as the difference. Both came with two outs, and yes, sometimes the batter deserves the credit for making good contact. However, meatball pitches are not always converted into home runs, if that was the case, the Nats would have won last night when Victor Robles got a center cut pitch and popped it up with bases loaded in the 8th inning. One pitch usually is not the difference in games, but in the past two games, it certainly has been the case.  Continue reading →

Erick Fedde; Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

In a Major League season, winning streaks come and go. The Washington Nationals four game winning streak ended last night essentially at the point when the opposing pitcher turned a 2-0 deficit into a 6-0 hole with a grand slam on a grooved fastball by Tanner Rainey.

A potentially good start by Joe Ross that could have been a 1-0 game, was erased, when his one inherited runner scored, and the Braves turned it into a five run 6th inning which changed the entire game in an instant. While it was frustrating to watch, it had to be tougher for manager Dave Martinez to see his reliever fall apart on the mound again. The bullpen had been so good in the past two weeks until last night. Rainey exited with an ERA of 10.00. His slider was not working and his once electric fastball felt more like a flickering bulb.  Continue reading →

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

The Washington Nationals have another series with the Atlanta Braves. The first time they faced each other in 2021, the game ended on a Juan Soto walk-off single in a slugfest. Now we wait for the news on Soto as to if the team will allow him to be activated for tonight’s game. We do know that Joe Ross is scheduled to start this game after the Nats gave him a few more rest days between starts. The Nats did not have a game yesterday and woke up to find themselves in sole possession of first place for the first time in the regular season since May 30 of 2018. Continue reading →