The Home for Washington Nationals Game Talk

This was the scene in Atlanta causing a postponement and a doubleheader today; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

In a day and age when technology has created retractable roofs, MLB does not mandate that teams must put them on newly built stadiums. Rain delays and rainouts still happen. If they did a cost-benefit analysis over the useful life of a stadium, they would see that retractable roofs are worth the investment. The Texas Rangers ownership figured that out when they built their new state-of-the-art complex that opened this year. Truist Park, formerly SunTrust Park, is the site of today’s doubleheader. The Nats have Wil Crowe in Game 2 as their 29th man for the doubleheader, and Austin Voth will start Game 1. Voth will face Tommy Milone who the Nats saw twice this year with the Orioles. Continue reading →

Photo by Andrew Lang for TalkNats

At this point in a season, the Nats have not been this bad on their winning percentage in nearly 11 years. You would have to go back to when they were 56-103 on October 1, 2009. They finished that 2009 season at 59-103 and got the 1st draft pick and picked a 17 year old named Bryce Harper the following year. That is the only silver lining when your team is “this” bad that you get a great draft position. Remember, the Nats did not even sell-off at the trade deadline.

“The frustration shows when we have an opportunity, a chance to do something,” manager Dave Martinez said during his postgame presser. “They all want to do it. They all want to be the guy. … Everybody’s trying to hit that five-run homer. I just want them to get on base for the next guy.”

Last night, you could see the frustrations boiling over. We saw batters swinging at pitches literally above their eyes. The unfortunate part for Adam Eaton swinging above his head on a pitch is that he is tanking his own value. Most likely his option held by the Nationals will be declined, and he will be a free agent after this season to search for employment with a -0.2 WAR, a .224 batting average and a .658 OPS on his resumé if the season ended today.  Continue reading →

Max Scherzer on Jackie Robinson Day in Fenway got the last Nats’ win; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

The Washington Nationals cannot seem to put all facets of the game together in a nine inning game. Last night Patrick Corbin gave up two runs and got zero in support and while there was some good defense for him — there was more plays that were not made.  Continue reading →

Photo by Craig Nedrow for TalkNats

The Washington Nationals are scoring plenty of runs, but not enough to get the team in the win column lately when their starters the last three games have surrendered 16 earned runs in just 13 combined innings. All of those game were tough losses given the offense averaged 4.67 runs per game.

The combination of Saturday and Sunday’s losses kind of sealed the deal on making any trades to add to the Nats roster. Here we are in Philadelphia with a 12-20 record that is actually worse in a winning percentage than the improbable 19-31 of May 24, 2019. That is how far this starting rotation of Anibal Sanchez, Austin Voth and Erick Fedde has sunk this team. With the injury of Stephen Strasburg, and the opt-out of Joe Ross, this team just lacks the depth and they could not afford the pitching demise of the 36 ½ year old Sanchez.  Continue reading →

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

The Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies could change how the NL East looks depending on how this 4-game series goes. Continue reading →