#Nats head back to D.C. with a nice Strasburg win in Miami!

The Nationals batters in the first through fourth spots in the line-up were on-base 14 times in this game, and they got Stephen Strasburg 4-runs in support of a nice victory against the Marlins. Strasburg went 6-innings of 2-run baseball with 11 strikeouts as Stras was one K away from averaging 2 strikeouts per inning. Strasburg’s change-up, curveball, fastball combination kept the Marlins batters off-balance all night. Continue reading

Posted in Recap | Leave a comment

Game #152 Nats finish up this 2-game series in Miami

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

The Nationals gave away a game last night and now look to split this 2-game series in Miami.  Stephen Strasburg gets the start tonight, and he wants to continue what he has been working on since he returned from the DL a few weeks ago. Continue reading

Posted in InGame | Leave a comment

NL Cy Young race using the John Smoltz logic!

John Smoltz has correctly predicted 29 of the last 30 Cy Young awards. His system used to be based on 6 statistical pitching categories, and now he has eliminated wins and it is only a tie-breaker while still using the other 5 categories. The 5 categories are: ERA , K, K/9, IP, WHIP and BAA (batting average against). Continue reading

Posted in Feature | Leave a comment

#Nats bullpen gives up 6-runs in loss to Marlins on big night from Robles/Rendon

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

The Nationals grabbed an early 4-0 lead thanks to Victor Robles first career home run that flew 427 feet, and Anthony Rendon added a 2-run home run. Erick Fedde exited in the 5th inning with a 4-2 lead, and then the Nationals bullpen gave up 6-runs. At one point, the Marlins were up 5-4 and the Nationals tied it up, but then Koda Glover fell apart on the mound walking 2 batters along with 2 hits to turn it to a 7-5 deficit on the way to a final score of 8-5. Continue reading

Posted in Recap | Leave a comment

Game #151 Nats are in Miami for a 2-game series!

Photo by Kevin Nibley for TalkNats

With the Nationals in Miami, the team finally gets to face a team without playoff aspirations, but like the Nationals, the Marlins have played spoiler recently. The Marlins have been playing a lot of call-ups plus a few familiar faces and playing a brand of aggressive baseball.  Continue reading

Posted in InGame | Leave a comment

2019 preview – The #Nats bullpen

Photo by Marlene Koenig for Talknats

Narratives are always ongoing in sports, and in time an opinion can become gospel. Take for example the tale that general manager Mike Rizzo is really bad at constructing bullpens. That’s pretty much as solid as the US Constitution – I’ve fallen for that one myself. The truth is as usual it is somewhere in the middle. Let’s examine this a little. Everyone agrees that Rizzo never converts failed starters to the pen, hello Craig Stammen. Rizzo doesn’t find gems on other teams, well then I guess Sean Burnett, Blake Treinen and Felipe Rivero never happened — oh, there’s also one Mr. Tyler Clippard. Rizzo also drafted Drew Storen who for all his faults was a capable closer for several years. Continue reading

Posted in Feature | Leave a comment

Nats win this series against Atlanta! Soto takes the series over Acuna!

The Nationals won this series as Tanner Roark held on to get this game into the bullpen with a lead. Harper, Rendon and Soto led the Nats offense today as the Nats won 6-4. In the Rookie of the Year race, Juan Soto had two hits with an RBI while Ronald Acuna Jr. was 0-5 in the game. Meanwhile, Sean Doolittle made quick work in the 9th inning for the save as the Nats now fly to Miami for a quick 2-game series before a 4-game series against the Mets.
Continue reading

Posted in Recap | Leave a comment

Game #150 There is still much to be accomplished! #Nats

With the season coming to an end for the Nationals, they still have a chance to finish the season on a high note and a winning record. One of the biggest stories in baseball is the future stars of the game which includes Juan Soto and Ronald Acuña Jr. who are competing for the NL Rookie of the Year award. Today is another day where the competing dynamic duo show the baseball world what they have. On Friday, Soto showed his great oppo power, and yesterday Soto put on show with his speed. He stole 3 bases in the game and set another record besting the great speedster Rickey Henderson as the youngest to that feat. Continue reading

Posted in InGame | Leave a comment

Nats dominate the Braves with 14 walks!

Jefry Rodriguez Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

The Nationals dominated in this game and won 7-1 while giving up no earned runs behind Jeremy Hellickson‘s start except Helly was pulled with pain in his wrist after 3-innings. He was relieved by Jefry Rodriguez who went 4 2/3 innings of shutout no-hit baseball, and the game was finished up by Matt Grace who also did not allow a run or any hits. The Nats pitching was so good that they held the Braves to just 2-hits in the game, and JRod showed his bosses that he deserves a chance next year in Spring Training.

Continue reading

Posted in Recap | Leave a comment

Game #149 Hellickson returns to the mound! Most watching Soto/Acuña

The game inside the game is always an intriguing subplot as Juan Soto and Ronald Acuña Jr. are competing for the NL Rookie of the Year award. Before yesterday’s game they embraced during workouts. The Washington Nationals teenage phenom is setting records and joining new clubs it seems weekly. Last night, Soto jacked his 20th home run of the season and became the 3rd teenager in the 20 home run club. Soto joins teammate Bryce Harper who hit 22 home runs as a teenager in 2012 and Tony Conigliaro who holds the teenage record with 24 home runs in 1964. With last night’s home run, Soto added to his record of 15 road home runs as a teenager. Ronald Acuña isn’t setting records as a 20 year old, however he is still a rookie doing amazing things and he was a home run shy of hitting for a cycle last night.  Continue reading

Posted in InGame | Leave a comment