The Home for Washington Nationals Game Talk

Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNats

Nothing is normal these days with the Washington Nationals. People are wondering if there is a curse on this team. Last night, they reportedly were stuck nearly 8 hours on the team’s Delta charter on the tarmac in Philadelphia before deplaning and heading back to a hotel in the City of Brotherly Love. The plane was eventually repaired at Philadelphia International Airport, and the team departed at 10:49 am EDT and arrived at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 12:36 pm EDT (11:36 am CDT) The team immediately was en route to their team hotel in Milwaukee for a few winks before they head to the field in a few hours for their 7:40 EDT game time tonight which we will call Sleepless in Milwaukee.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Collis for TalkNats

It’s Cinco de Mayo today and the season will be 20% complete when the game turns to the 4th inning today. Of course all of that is dependent on Mother Nature who is pounding the Mid-Atlantic states with rain. As expected, Matt Adams joins the long list of Nationals players on the injured list. Taking Big City’s spot on the roster is Jake Noll, and that is the only personnel move for today as Michael A. Taylor avoids the IL for now after he injured his wrist last night. Continue reading →

Last night, the Nationals lost another game to open a series this season. They have now lost 10 of the first games in their 11 series this season, and it feels like Groundhog Day. Get a lead, blow a lead in the bullpen, debate what went wrong with the offense, name names, and then blame the manager. It’s getting real old watching the same thing on loop. That 45 rpm vinyl is scratched, and replaying the same sounds. Luckily in all other games past the first games in series, the Nationals are 12-8. If you can figure out what is wrong in the first game of series besides the final deficits on the scoreboard, let manager Dave Martinez know. Continue reading →

Juan Soto hits the game winning HR; Bryce Harper in the background

For the NL East teams, they have been feasting on each other in a feeding frenzy and nobody has run away with the division. The last time the Nationals were in Philadelphia they were healthier than they are now, and won some dramatic games including the comeback win scoring 9 unanswered runs and then the 15-1 victory . The Phillies are only 17-13 and the Mets are 16-15, and they are the two teams atop the NL East. The Nationals at 13-17 are only 4.0 games in the standings from first place. That seems like a gift being this close to the top of the division. The Nats are playing .500 baseball against the NL East and have a winning record against the Phillies so far. Continue reading →

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

Last night, it took less than 10 minutes to elapse in the game before a massive blunder happened in right-field on a misread of a Marcell Ozuna liner. The errant baseball had typical slice off of a right-hander’s bat that moves left to right. On this night, Victor Robles was moved to rightfield and the Ozuna liner turned what should have been an easy out into a double, and before you knew it 3-runs scored in the first inning.

The Nationals never recovered for their starting pitcher, Max Scherzer, who should have had an easy night against his hometown team, but his offense could only muster up one run of support for their star pitcher who deserved better on this night. The Nats have only won one of Scherzer’s starts this season of the seven times he has pitched. Max had three stressful innings leading to a 110 pitch outing over 7 innings. After the 1st inning mishap, Scherzer did not allow another run to score. It was another game where the Nats offense had plenty of baserunners. The Cardinals had 11 hits in the game, but the Nats had 9 and lost 5-1. The bullpen’s scoreless streak ended at 16 innings in this game, but it did not seem to matter because you won’t win many games scoring just one run — except it is possible as the Reds beat the Mets last night 1-0.  Continue reading →

It’s May 1st. There should be some optimism if you believe the Nationals are following their same pattern as last year. The team was 13-16 last year leading into May and the Nats are 12-16 now. In May of 2018, the team went 20-7 for the month and moved into first place at the beginning of June. Much like last year, there was a lack of balance and baseball is a balancing act. One-run losses are usually a sign that a team was deficient in at least one aspect of their game. For most of the season, it has been the bullpen issues, but lately it has been the lack of offense generated from non-power numbers, and the starting pitching. Last night, the Nationals scored both of their runs on home runs, and that was it. The Nats stranded 9 runners and it was another game where they could not push across runs in a RISP situation (0-6). Waiting for the three-run home run would put a smile on Earl Weaver‘s face — but since the game when Anthony Rendon was injured on April 20th, the team has scored 3-or-fewer runs in 5 of those 10 games.

Last night in the second inning the Nationals had a golden opportunity with men on 2nd and 1st and no outs, and Carter Kieboom in the batter’s box. Me: BUNT.  Continue reading →

Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNats

While all the talk was on the first place Dodgers and Cody Bellinger, the Cardinals of St. Louis are quietly stacking up wins and hold the best record in the National League. Last night, they dismantled the Nats as we saw. The Cards made Patrick Corbin look like a back of the rotation starter with a 6 run 5th inning. Continue reading →