The Home for Washington Nationals Game Talk

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

A happy birthday to the greatest Washington Nationals’ player of all-time. Employee #11 will be the last player to don the #11 jersey in Washington baseball history as they will retire his number officially at some point — but we have no idea if the Face of the Franchise is ready to hang it up soon.  Ryan Zimmerman is 16 homer runs from 300 in his career, and two walk-off home runs from the MLB record to tie Jim Thome. The original first draft pick of the Nats’ franchise will not reveal his intentions for the 2022 season until the weather is real cold outside his D.C. area home. So enjoy this start tonight, and hopefully he gets at least one more start this weekend J.I.C.  Continue reading →

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

There are only six games left to close the Washington Nationals season. That is a fact, however there are six games remaining for players to show what they have. While Juan Soto has nothing to prove, he is competing for a batting crown, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, and the MVP. Just being able to watch Juan Soto on a daily basis is a thrill, and especially for youngsters who could be telling stories 50 years from now that they saw Soto play. Continue reading →

Photo by MarkFD for TalkNats

The last two nights just seemed so familiar with this Washington Nationals’ team lately. Watching the 35th blown save of the season not only set a record in the Majors since “save” records were first kept in 1969, but it just shows how good this team would have been if they had a competent bullpen.

The Reds pulled their starter at the 2 2/3 innings point of the game because it was a “must win” for them while Nats’ manager Dave Martinez allowed Erick Fedde to give up two runs in the fifth inning which has been the blowup inning for Fedde all year. We wrote in the pre-game that he had a 5th inning ERA of 7.91 runs, and of course that is over 8.00 runs now. Yesterday with the stats we have, it should have been no surprise, but the Nats bullpen is so bad, you just trade one disaster for another.

The meltdown by Fedde was as expected as the almost certainty that the Nats bullpen would blow it. That bullpen needing to get the job done for the final four innings was going to be like dodging bullets in a shootout and you knew it would end ugly. Two walk-offs in a row for the Reds. Continue reading →

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

After the Washington Nationals’ three-game winning streak was halted after another lead was blown in the bullpen, we were reminded that this team has a horrible bullpen, mind-boggling struggles with bases loaded offense, and the inability to score in extra innings.  Continue reading →

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

For the final nine games of this season, Juan Soto is making his final push for an MVP, batting crown, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, and setting records. His hot streak may cost the Washington Nationals a spot or two in the 2022 draft, but this team would never roll over and try to tank. Last night, Soto put up two of the Nats’ three runs, and the bullpen barely held on to the 3-0 lead they were handed. With 64 wins in-hand as well as 89 losses, there are 81 possible win/loss possibilities with the odds great against the Nats finishing the season on a 12-game winning streak. But that would be like the Nats to do that , wouldn’t it? Continue reading →

Photo by Navy Yard Nats for TalkNats

The Washington Nationals charter flight touched down at 2:07 EDT near Cincinnati early this morning. At this point, the Nats are used to these sleep schedules. To be at 3:30 AM and awake for breakfast at 11:30 AM if they can sleep through the normal clanking and noise in the hallways of their hotel. They have just ten games remaining on the season, and four against the Reds.  Continue reading →