by Andrew Lang
by Andrew Lang
Adam Eaton is stirring it up; Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
The Nationals once had a player who would talk about that he would run through a “fricking brick wall” for his manager but in reality he would not even run out most infield groundballs. Many players will give you a cliché or a cute soundbite to tell you how hard they are working. Talk is cheap and you never want a losing culture to be acceptable. Continue reading
Last night was a game that baseball purists love as Stephen Strasburg was dominating through six innings last night. He knew the 7th inning would be his last, and maybe he knew that he had to plunk a batter. That batter he hit also hurt his catcher, Kurt Suzuki, who took the deflection off of his left ear. That seemed to unnerve Strasburg and his inning quickly unraveled. If you had a great bullpen, maybe you make a move there and call it a night in a 0-0 game. Instead, Strasburg remained in the game and gave up two singles to load the bases. At this point the former first overall draft pick had to save his own game, and he nearly did. Stras got a key strikeout for the second out of the inning, but then Lorenzo Cain ripped a bases clearing double to put the game in quick peril. The ending for the Nationals matched the same fate of how their season started — as a shutout. Continue reading
Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
The player we affectionately call “Tony Two Bags” is due to come off the 10-day injured list today. The Nationals were a .500 team at 9-9 when Rendon was at 3rd base until the day that he was plunked on the elbow. Since, then the team has unraveled with some of the sloppiest play we have ever seen in the history of the Nationals. This team in the past three days has accumulated nine charged errors in the field and several more plays that should have been made. On Sunday it was Jake Noll apologizing for a first inning error that allowed two runs to score, and Carter Kieboom last night botched a grounder and did not snag a liner at glove’s reach that resulted in the only two runs (one earned) against Max Scherzer. Continue reading
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.
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
Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNats
The bunts were the difference in this game, and the home runs sealed the win in another improbable come-from-behind win in Philadelphia. Both Matt Adams and Michael A. Taylor exited this game with injuries, and Brian Dozier survived a hit-by-pitch to his head in this wild game. The Nationals 4-run 8th inning turned the tables on the Phillies to win this 10-8. Patrick Corbin battled all night with a high pitch count and lasted 6.0 innings of 3-run baseball while throwing 118 pitches which was a career high for him. Joe Ross had an absolute meltdown in the 7th inning giving up 5-runs but the Nats never quit. Kyle Barraclough threw a 1-2-3 8th inning mowing down the heart of the Phillies order getting Jean Segura on a flyout then striking out Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins. The 9th inning got shaky, but Sean Doolittle bent but did not break earning his 5th save. It was bunts and boomers as Kurt Suzuki hit the game tying 3-run home run on a pinch-hit and Victor Robles hit the game winner in an oppo boppo shot above Harper’s head in rightfield. 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
The Nationals had a 6th inning blown save on the ledger of Dan Jennings as he gave up a 3-run homer to lose this game 4-2. Nats’ starter Jeremy Hellickson pitched well taking a 2-1 lead into the 6th inning when manager Dave Martinez went to his lefty Jennings to face Bryce Harper. Unfortunately Harper walked and Jennings stayed in to face the right-handed Rhys Hoskins who crushed a pitch on the bottom of the zone for the game winner. Were there better choices, yes since Hoskins was 1-2 against Jennings with a sacrifice fly. Kyle Barraclough and Justin Miller looked like the better choices to face Hoskins even though manager Dave Martinez said that Hoskins has reverse splits so maybe you needed a different lefty to face him like Matt Grace or even Tony Sipp who had never faced Hoskins. It was the highest leverage point in the game. 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
The Nationals won this game with four regular starters, and some great pitching in a 2-1 win to salvage this series. Stephen Strasburg pitched a 1-run game over 6 2/3 innings and the bullpen made it interesting while throwing a 2 1/3 inning shutout culminating in a 1 1/3 inning 30-pitch save by Sean Doolittle. In this one, it was the Cardinals who had defensive errors and blew the game. The Nationals avoided a 4-game sweep and head to Philadelphia with a nice win. Continue reading
"Opening Day should be a National holiday"
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