Baseball 2016 (1 Viewer)
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Watching the 4th game in the Nats v Cubs series and it is a very frustrating experience. Once again the Nats had a lead, knocked out Arrieta, and blew the lead. Now in extra innings, the bottom of the 13th, and I have to say that the Cub strategy to take the bat out of Harper's hands has worked. He has been to the plate 7 times in this game, has a HBP and 6 walks. That's right, 6 walks. 4 have been intentional, and 2 semi-intentional. 3 times they have walked him to load the bases and got the next guy to end the inning. The Nats have stranded 21 men so far, and the Cubs 13. The 6 walks ties a record for most walks by one player in a game that is over 100 years old. In the 4 game series, Harper has now been walked 13 times. He saw 27 pitches so far today and only 2 were strikes. Don't know how the game will end but it has been a frustrating one to watch as a Nats fan. -- Al
Update-- Cubs walk-off Hr wins it in the 13th and they sweep the Nats. Nats can blame no one but themselves for this disaster. They lead in 3 of the games and blew them all. Next.
Update-- Cubs walk-off Hr wins it in the 13th and they sweep the Nats. Nats can blame no one but themselves for this disaster. They lead in 3 of the games and blew them all. Next.
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Interesting baseball stat O' the Day: Bill Dickey, NYY HoF catcher and legend, who played from 1928-43 and 1946, appeared in 1789 games and won 8 WS titles, had a career BA. of .313 with 1209 RBI's. In some 7065 PA, Dickey struck out a grand total of 289 times. In today's terms, based on a 162 game season, Dickey would average 640 PA and strikeout 26 times. Not too shabby. -- Al
To clarify Harper's day, he is the first player in baseball history to reach base 7 times in one game without an official at-bat. He is the first player in baseball history to be walked 13 times in one series. His 6 walks have been equaled by Jeff Bagwell in 1999 and Jimmie Foxx in 1938. To highlight how well the Cubs strategy worked, the man batting behind Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, stranded 14 baserunners in this game, going 1 for 7, though he did have 1 RBI. Nats have to fix this problem of Harper being unprotected in the line-up or the Cubs strategy is going to become much more widespread. -- Al
jazzeum
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Rough weekend for you guys. Looks like Zimmerman is off to a slow start. I noticed that in the last couple of years his numbers have started to dip slightly downward. Any concern in DC about him?
I see Murph is batting fifth. He's not your prototypical number 4 hitter but why not switch him and Zimmerman?
I also noticed that Werth and Rendon seem to be off to slow starts.
I see Murph is batting fifth. He's not your prototypical number 4 hitter but why not switch him and Zimmerman?
I also noticed that Werth and Rendon seem to be off to slow starts.
Brad, the Nats offense is rather a model of inconsistency so far. Both the men used at lead-off are batting under .200; Rendon (of whom A LOT is expected) is batting .216 with only 2 Hr's and 5 RBI's; Zimmerman is at .236 and has not hit with any power; Werth is at .202; Espinoza went 3 for 6 yesterday and RAISED his average to .200. Only 3 starters are hitting, Harper, Murphy, and Ramos at catcher. Personally, I would have moved Murphy behind Harper 2 weeks ago as Zimmerman hasn't hit all year. There is concern about Zimmerman, especially the power drop off. He is a 25 Hr type hitter and to this point has 1 Hr and 12 RBI's. He's just not getting the job done right now, but neither are 4 other starters, in terms of hitting. Our offense is going nowhere as long as 5 of the 8 starters continue to scuffle. I have faith Rendon will come around. He is too good not to. I'm not as optimistic about Werth (age), Zimmerman (accumulated injuries), and Espinoza (career .229 hitter, anyhow). Obviously, with only 3 men hitting, our offense is not very imposing. Don't know what Baker and the brain trust will do. -- Al
jazzeum
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Al,
Hopefully some of these things will sort themselves out for you shortly (although if it can wait until after the Mets play the Nats, that would be ok ^&grin). I'm assuming that if some of the hitters are struggling, the pitching must be really doing the job.
I seem to remember that Zimmerman and David Wright are childhood friends. It could be that both are in the downside of their career. David is obviously not the player he used to be (with his back trouble and all) but is still somewhat productive.
Hopefully some of these things will sort themselves out for you shortly (although if it can wait until after the Mets play the Nats, that would be ok ^&grin). I'm assuming that if some of the hitters are struggling, the pitching must be really doing the job.
I seem to remember that Zimmerman and David Wright are childhood friends. It could be that both are in the downside of their career. David is obviously not the player he used to be (with his back trouble and all) but is still somewhat productive.
Brad, the pitching has been doing very well. The starters are fine, though Scherzer is not as sharp as he should be. The relief pitching had been doing a good job until we got to Chicago where they had a bad series. It's the team batting average of .239 that is the concern. -- Al
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Al:
The Giants and Bonds ran into this. They finally got Jeff Kent to "protect" him but even then he was walked constantly. Chances are, even if Zimmerman starts to hit he cover off of the ball, some teams are still going to pitch around Harper. The old "anyone but him" strategy will likely bring down Harper's HR and RBI stats, but it could equate to more runs and more importantly wins for the Nats.
-Jason
Jason, Bonds was the only one I knew of that got pitched around like this. I guess it was inevitable. The irony in the case of the Cub series is that Harper had been in a slump and hadn't been hitting well for the last 7 or 8 games coming into Chicago. One thing for sure, if the other guys don't hit, the Nats are not going anywhere with a one or two man offense. -- Al
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Agreed on all counts.
Give Baker some time to figure it out. He dealt with it when it came to Bonds, I am sure he has a plan for the Nats.
Considering how great Harper has been, I am amazed that no one else has tried what the Cubs did this weekend.
The local sports talk show on the Nats has talked about the 'walk' strategy for most of the season but this is the first time the Nats have run into it. Harper had 17 walks in 27 games prior to the series. He now has 30 walks in 31 games. I don't think I care much for this strategy.:rolleyes2: -- Al
jazzeum
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You don't want to let the big man beat you!
On the other hand, you're basically not sending a good message to your pitching staff.
I could be wrong but if he comes up in a big spot against the Mets when they play this year, I can't see Terry doing that.
On the other hand, you're basically not sending a good message to your pitching staff.
I could be wrong but if he comes up in a big spot against the Mets when they play this year, I can't see Terry doing that.
I understand the strategy behind the intentional walk, I just don't like IBB. I think the Mets staff is good enough not to have to resort to it except for the isolated situation, but I also thought the Cubs were good enough not to do it. Anyway, if Rendon and Zimmerman don't up their game, it will be hard to resist not taking the bat out of Harper's hand with the IBB. I saw that the new Topps Colon Hr card has set new sales records.^&grin -- Al
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Wasn't Arrieta pitching?
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Last year in a game versus the Diamondbacks Bochy made Bumgarner intentionally walk Paul Goldschmidt. When Goldschmidt got to first Bumgarner got his attention and told him it wasn't his idea and they both had a chuckle.
Aces are always going to think they can get anyone out, it goes with the territory and title of Ace. Managers obviously often feel differently.
Aces are always going to think they can get anyone out, it goes with the territory and title of Ace. Managers obviously often feel differently.
Yes, Arrieta started but lasted only 5 innings. He wasn't sharp, walked 4, yielded 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned) and actually trailed when he left the game. -- Al
Brad, the Tigers just did it in the bottom of the 8th. Harper came up with 2 on, 2 out, and they gave him the intentional pass to load the bases, and just like all seson, Zimmerman failed again and popped out, end of inning, leaving the game tied.
-- Al