Time for an exorcism for the Nationals

Posted on August 13, 2018 by 2019Nats

You must be a TalkNats Subscriber to access this content. Subscribers have access to exclusive content on the TalkNats website and can engage in discussions with other Nats fans.

Click here to become a subscriber.

First two weeks are free and then you will be billed $3.99/month. Cancel anytime. Secure payments using Stripe.

If you are already a subscriber, simply log in using the form below.

Posted in Analysis | Leave a comment

Perspective: A great game for 8 1/2 innings; A complete disaster for a 1/2 inning

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

You must be a TalkNats Subscriber to access this content. Subscribers have access to exclusive content on the TalkNats website and can engage in discussions with other Nats fans.

Click here to become a subscriber.

First two weeks are free and then you will be billed $3.99/month. Cancel anytime. Secure payments using Stripe.

If you are already a subscriber, simply log in using the form below.

Posted in Analysis | Leave a comment

Nats find a new way to lose. A walk-off grand slam.

Posted on August 12, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Ryan Zimmerman at Wrigley Field by NavyYardNats for TalkNats

We should be celebrating a great Nationals win and instead a loss you won’t forget about for a long long time. The Nationals took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the 9th inning and 4 runs scored on a pinch-hit walk-off grand slam by David Bote in a 2-strike count with 2 outs. A Max Scherzer gem was wasted as he exited at the end of the 7th inning with a 1-0 lead, and the Nats ran that lead up to 3-0 which should have been enough. A walk-off pinch-hit grand slam home run down by 3 runs with  2 outs is so rare you have to go back 39 years to Roger Freed. A similar feat was also acheived by Allen Trammel in 1988, however he wasn’t a pinch-hitter. Continue reading →

Posted in Recap | Leave a comment

Game #118 Win one tonight! #Nats

Posted on August 12, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Nationals and Cubs will complete this 3-game series tonight under the lights at Wrigley Field, and the Nats get another featured game on ESPN’s Sunday Night Game of the Week. While getting the big game is an honor, it is also a game that changes sleep patterns as they usually finish up near midnight in the East. Luckily on this getaway day, the flight to St. Louis is a short one about an hour in the air, and the Nationals will probably still get to their hotel by Busch Stadium between 2AM – 3AM (EDT). Continue reading →

Posted in InGame | Leave a comment

Nats get pitching from Roark, power from Zim and Murphy and 9-runs

Posted on August 11, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Nationals knocked the Cubs ace, Jon Lester, out of the game in the 4th inning as the Nationals cruised to a 9-4 win in Wrigley field behind some fine pitching by Tanner Roark and the power from two Ryan Zimmerman home runs and 6 RBIs and a 2-run home run from Daniel Murphy. Continue reading →

Posted in Recap | Leave a comment

Game #117 Win one today! #Nats

Posted on August 11, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

No more excuses — just win! After manager Dave Martinez has faced the media following 57 losses this season, he’s becoming a regular on answering the media as to why the Nationals lost. We have heard a variety of reasons that are starting to sound like excuses like “they played hard” and “they played well”. Continue reading →

Posted in InGame | Leave a comment

Wash, rinse, repeat. Missed opportunities, questionable decisions, blah blah blah

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Nationals lost another one-run game falling to 11-19 in those outcomes this season. This one particularly stings because Jeremy Hellickson was throwing a no-hitter when he was removed from the game at 5 2/3 innings, and he handed over bases loaded to Sammy Solis after Hellickson walked three-in-a-row, and immediately Solis gave up a 2-run single and eventually was charged with another run earning him a blown-save and a loss. The opportunities were there early and often for the Washington Nationals, but the key hits scored only one run each. The Nationals had 9 hits, 1 HBP,  plus 2 walks and only scored 2 runs. It is the same old story of missed opportunities and questionable managing/coaching.  Continue reading →

Posted in Recap | Leave a comment

Game #116 Nats have 3 games to win against the Cubs

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Luis Albisu for TalkNats

Nationals’ manager Dave Martinez returns to Wrigley Field for the first time as a visitor in a few years. Martinez was Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon‘s bench coach from 2006 to 2017 and Martinez was Maddon’s bench coach in Chicago from 2015 to 2017. Many years before that, Martinez made his MLB debut as a player for the Cubs in 1986.  Continue reading →

Posted in InGame | Leave a comment

Gio Gonzalez only gives up 1 run; Anibal Sanchez exits with injury

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

The Nationals had to find a way to win this game, and Gio Gonzalez’s results were positive in this Nationals big win to even this series 2-2. The Braves Anibal Sanchez looked great to start the game as he only gave up a single to Trea Turner in this one, but exited the game with a 1-0 lead when a slow comebacker off of the bat of Michael Taylor hit Sanchez’s calf. That was all it took for Sanchez to exit the game and the Nationals got 6-runs off of two Braves pitchers who were making their MLB debuts. It should have been a bigger offensive showing by the Nationals who were swinging at 3-0 pitches and playing this like it was a Spring Training game. Luckily enough balls went the Nationals way including contact off of Gio Gonzalez. Continue reading →

Posted in Recap | Leave a comment

Game #115 Like a Game 4 to end a series has Gio on the mound

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

On October 12, 2017, Dusty Baker had a choice who to start on the mound between Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark with the season on the line. Gio was staked to a 4-1 lead but quickly gave back 2-runs and departed after the 3rd inning leaving his bullpen to cover 6 innings. We will never know if Roark would have done better. Today, Dusty’s replacement, Dave Martinez, had a similar decision when setting up his rotation for this week. Because Saturday was a doubleheader with both Jeremy Hellickson and Gio Gonzalez pitching, each would be available today on regular rest. Martinez chose Gonzalez over Hellickson. We will see how this unfolds in real-time today at Nationals Park and on Facebook Live for those watching the broadcast. Continue reading →

Posted in InGame | Leave a comment