A quarter of the way through the season and the Nats have a good winning record and a decent lead in the NL East, BUT, this is a deeply flawed team. Again tonight, the bullpen blew another game. This team has the offense to be great, but they simply don't have the pitching, at this point, to go anywhere if they make the playoffs. I know it's a LONG way off but the truth is the bullpen is sinking this team, not only by blowing games at every given opportunity, but by forcing the starters to stay in the games past the point of being effective. The 4 main SP's for the Nats all rank in the top 6 for most pitches thrown per game. This is going to be a huge factor in the dog days of August and the run for the flag in September. There is also some strange stuff going on with basics, such as base running, where the Nats look like the 3 Stooges on the base paths. Quite honestly, this team doesn't look like it is being lead so much as it just is drifting along. If any other team in the NL East can catch fire, the Nats can be had. I wonder how long these bullpen problems will be allowed to go on? It is going to wear out the SP's, both physically and mentally and will destroy the morale of the team as games that should be won are continually thrown away. -- Al
2017 Baseball Season: Let's Play Two! (2 Viewers)
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jazzeum
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You're worrying over nothing. The Nats have a 7 game lead (6 in the loss) over the Braves. If you want to tell me they're a flawed team, fine, but the other teams have more flaws. The Beaves just lost Freddie Freeman for two months and the Mets are missing several key parts. Relax, the Nats are going to win the division.
Brad, I know I sound like I'm just whining, but it's not the division title I'm worried about, not right now, anyhow. I can see the other teams in the division have bigger and more varied problems and may not be a threat this season, but it's the seeming inability to fix the current problems or infuse any urgency into the Nats that have me bothered. As things stand, if they make the post-season, they are looking at another early exit because of the current problems. I'm not saying this can't all be fixed, especially since it's so early, it's just frustrating to see a team that could be so much better, continually shooting itself in the foot. They could easily have 7 or 8 more wins than they do. I'm not being greedy, I hope, but this team is not playing to it's potential. -- Al
jazzeum
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This is not the time to try to fix those problems because every team will hold you up. The odds balance out as the trading deadline approaches as the seller and the buyer want to get a call before the deadline.
Right now, there are no "run and hide" teams in the NL so I wouldn't be overly worried about the playoffs. Moreover, they might not be overly motivated since they have the division in hand.
Right now, there are no "run and hide" teams in the NL so I wouldn't be overly worried about the playoffs. Moreover, they might not be overly motivated since they have the division in hand.
All good points, especially about trade options. Still too early to make out-of-system trades without giving up too much. The large lead allows the Nats to bide their time. It is all just frustrating to watch the continued problems.:redface2: -- Al
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Al:
Hopefully the Nats' bullpen issues get fixed soon. Take it from me and last year's Giants squad, you can have great starting pitching, clutch hitting and solid fielding but if your relievers can't hold a lead you will lose come playoff time.
Brad is right, management has time to address the issues, but an astute fan like you knows that ignoring them will only lead to an early exit from the postseason.
-Jason
Wahoo! Nats bullpen actually SAVED a game today, as Strasburg got win #5. About time.:rolleyes2: Meanwhile, the O's committed a very uncharacteristic 3 errors and wasted an outstanding start by Miley, in losing 3-1, with all 3 runs being unearned. Bad luck for Miley who now owns a 1-2 record with a very good 2.59 ERA. Go figure. Miley has 4 QS in his 9 total starts, and the O's are 5-4 in his games, yet he has only the 1 win. He has allowed as many as 4 runs only once. He is grinding for little reward. Can't afford to waste the good starts when we get them. By way of contrast, Jimenez, also 1-2, has 1 QS in his 7 starts and has allowed 4 or more runs 5 times, yet the O's are 5-2 in his games. Run support, better to have it than not.:wink2: -- Al
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The Giants took 2 out of 3 from the Cards this weekend. They have climbed out of last place and are now no longer double digit games out of first.
I noted in the SF extra innings win yesterday that Samardzija was especially sharp. He and the Giants need that kind of pitching, (well, so does everyone else). Good sign, though. -- Al
Another vintage performance by uBADo in tonight's Twins game. Given a 5-0 lead, he went to the 5th with a 6-2 lead but couldn't even get an out in the 5th before being yanked. He gave up 9 hits, 2 walks, 4 runs, and left 2 runners on for the pen to deal with. The Twins then promptly tied the game. uBADo is just such a disaster.
-- Al
-- Al
sammy719
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Another vintage performance by uBADo in tonight's Twins game. Given a 5-0 lead, he went to the 5th with a 6-2 lead but couldn't even get an out in the 5th before being yanked after giving up 9 hits, 2 walks, 4 runs, and leaving 2 runners on for the pen to deal with. The Twins then promptly tied the game. uBADo is just such a disaster.
Don't worry Al, he's about due to throw a 2 hitter in the next few weeks, so Buck can say "see, just got to have faith"
unreal, the day that cut or release that rag arm I'll be dancing in the streets!!!! oh I guess Buck finally heard my plea to PLEASE pitch T. Wilson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Frying pan into the fire, Sammy. Wilson lasted 1.1 innings and gave up 5 runs. What can you do when the pitchers don't perform? 4 outs after uBADo exits, the O's now trail 11-6, and they still have 2 runners on with the 1 out in the 6th. ARRRGH!Don't worry Al, he's about due to throw a 2 hitter in the next few weeks, so Buck can say "see, just got to have faith"
-- Al
sammy719
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Frying pan into the fire, Sammy. Wilson lasted 1.1 innings and gave up 5 runs. What can you do when the pitchers don't perform? 4 outs after uBADo exits, the O's now trail 11-6, and they still have 2 runners on with the 1 out in the 6th. ARRRGH!
Scratch that Wilson request!!
I still believe Wilson can be a starter if giving a real chance, but yea this game sucks plenty all around, how can you go from a comfy 6-2 lead in the fifth to being blown out in the 6th??? score checking the Yanks once again as the O's looking to lose back to back at Camden Yards for the first time in a long while.This just keeps getting better.:rolleyes2: O's pitcher Crichton (who?!?) drops the ball during his wind-up and balks in run #12. Make it stop! Buck should start and argument and get thrown out so he doesn't have to watch this any longer.:rolleyes2: -- AlFrying pan into the fire, Sammy. Wilson lasted 1.1 innings and gave up 5 runs. What can you do when the pitchers don't perform? 4 outs after uBADo exits, the O's now trail 11-6, and they still have 2 runners on with the 1 out in the 6th. ARRRGH!
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Buck should have gone Earl Weaver, if nothing else it would have been entertaining.
Louis Badolato
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Al, my friend, I think you are a little too critical of your Orioles. The Yankees have so far exceeded pretty much everyone's expectations with their fast start, but, 1/4 of the way through the season, your O's are only 1-1/2 games back, with, what, third-best record in the American League after the Astros and Yanks? I wouldn't be too stressed about your team, I think they are going to do just fine this season.:wink2:
LOL. Love it. :salute:: -- Al