The Math on the possibility of a NL Triple Crown for Bryce Harper on 9/6/15

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Here is a fun exercise on the great offensive season Bryce Harper is having and talk about the history of the Triple Crown.  The last NL Triple Crown winner was Joe “Ducky” Medwick 78 years ago for the St Louis Cardinals in 1937 had 31 HRs, 154 RBIs and a .374 BA.   Could Bryce Harper join American Pharoah as a dual 2015 Triple Crown?

Here is Bryce Harper’s numbers:

  1. 34 HRs
  2. 83 RBIs
  3. .339 BA
  4. 26 games remaining

Perfect timing for this Tweet from MLB at 11:07AM today……

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In-Game Joe Cool Ross with the Start

Posted on September 6, 2015 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

This is the final game of this 4 game series between the Nats and Braves.  If the Nats were considered hosts as the home team, they’d be considered rude hosts with the way they greeted the visitors.  2 lopsided wins so far and a squeaker walkoff that was like stealing a win that was rung up.

Last night Gio did his job in going a full 6 and gave up no runs.  The only 2 runs scored by the visitors was off a Trea Turner error leading to 2 unearned.

The other good news was Papelbon wasn’t needed nor was Storen as they could both rest up.

Quote of the night from Gio on Bryce Harper’s dominance: “It’s like he’s got the cheat codes to baseball. He’s right on point with everything he’s doing.”

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In-Game Nats have Gio Gonzalez

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Nats set-up Saturday with Gio Gonzalez to face the Braves best pitcher Shelby Miller.  The question is always which Gio Gonzalez the Nats will see on the mound as he has pitched like an Ace many times this season and unfortunately that hasn’t always been the case. Shelby Miller is the Braves pitcher who has suffered behind a lack of run support.

If you’re going to sit Ian Desmond, tonight would be the night. Desi is 1-17 for an .059 vs Shelby Miller.  The Nats players who are hitting Miller well are Rendon and Espinosa who both have the same exact slashes at 4-11 with a walk and a double.  Clint Robinson has a HR vs Miller.   The rest, nothing great but as we know about small sample sizes, not to be relied on.

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Players Executing At Crunch Time Save Manager From 2nd Guessing, 3rd Guessing…

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Yunel Escobar led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a double and the Nats were behind 2-1.  Matt Williams inserted speedster Trea Turner to pinch-run which would allow even a lousy bunt on the ground to get the speedy Turner to 3rd.  Wheels were moving and tough decisions made.

Earlier in the game MW made some tough decisions in the 5th inning with starter Tanner Roark.

BIG DECISION(S) #1:  Roark had runners on 3rd and 2nd and 1 out with Freddie Freeman stepping into the batters box in a 1-1 game with 1st base open in the 5th inning.  Seemed like a smart decision to intentionally walk Freeman but certainly critics will find a way to find fault if Freeman comes around to score.  MW then brought in the lefty Matt Thornton to face A.J. Pierzynski with the bases loaded and 1 out.  Pierzynski would pop-out to Ian Desmond in short-left-CF and Desi would wheel around and throw a strike to home holding Markakis at 3rd. Credit to Thornton hustling to back up the play.  Great pitch jamming Pierzynski.  Rookie callup Adonis Garcia is a righty and MW left Thornton in with 2 outs and still bases loaded.  Should MW have brought in a tough righty to face Garcia? Nope, MW let Thornton pitch to him and Garcia grounded out to 2nd base.

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Updated: 2 Walk-offs in 1 night gets the Nats to within 5 of 1st Place. 7 videos attached!

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Question: What do April 28th and September 4th have in common?

Answer:  The 2 greatest comebacks in the season.

Both have come in Teheran starts where the Braves had the victory already rung up. Not so fast! Dan Uggla hit a 3 run HR just like Michael A. Taylor to win these games.  OK, the drama on Uggla doing it against the Braves closer Grilli in an 0-2 count with the Nats behind 12-10 in the Nats greatest comeback in their history isn’t apples to apples in comparison but the similarities are almost too alike.

Friday’s game all started with a clutch 9th inning hitting by Matt den Dekker with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th to drive in the tying run to make the score 2-2, and Michael A. Taylor walks it off on a booming 3 run HR in the 10th inning. #Clutch #Walkoff #WalkoffCity

https://twitter.com/chelsea_janes/status/640018415097413633

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In-Game Roark starts!

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Nats face off against Julio Teheran and no matter who pitches on the Nats side you’d expect Teheran’s nemesis José Lobaton in the lineup for the Nats.

The good news is AJ Cole won’t be facing Teheran this time and Roark gets a “spot” start in place of Stephen Strasburg.

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Bryce Harper stats machine

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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Diagnosing the Late Summer Swoon

Posted on September 4, 2015 by ADCWONK

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There’s always a silver lining!

Posted on September 4, 2015 by DonH

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In-Game JZim against Braves in Game 1 of 4

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Jordan Zimmermann takes the ball for the Nats against the Braves and the rookie Wisler.

The Nats find themselves 6.5 back in the NL East and must go on a long winning streak to improve their chances for the postseason.  As they say, it all starts right now, and the Nats come back to DC from a big win in St. Louis.

Ryan Zimmerman leads the Nats offense but there is much uncertainty with the health of 2 outfielders with Bryce Harper’s glute and Michael A. Taylor’s knee.  Then you have the health of Stephen Strasburg as a question mark in the starting rotation.  Bryce Harper will start on Thursday and we will watch how he’s running.

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