Shawn Kelley is broken.
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This Team Is Fun
Fist-fighting for fun in San Fran, 51 runs in 27 innings in Oakland, and a tough series win against the second best team in the National League — that was a California vacation the Griswolds would be proud of. To go 7-2 on their last road trip, considering Bryce Harper was 2 for 21 with 11 Ks (when he wasn’t suspended), Joe Ross imploded, and Dusty Baker mailed it in, speaks to how good this team is.
Unchained Melody: The Ballad of Wilmer Difo
To most of you, Wilmer Difo is a light-hitting utility infielder with goofy hair and even goofier walk-up music. But to a limited few, (probably just me, and Luigi de Guzman), he’s so much more. I dare not speak for Luigi (who’s more than capable of speaking for himself) but to me, he embodies the Washington Nationals past, present, and future. However, you can’t tell the story of Wilmer Difo without first telling the story of Carlos Alvarez, also known as Esmailyn “Smiley” Gonzalez.
Continue Reading Unchained Melody: The Ballad of Wilmer Difo
Re-Sign Jayson Werth
The Golden Age of Washington Nationals baseball began in the winter of 2010. Out of the blue and in the dead of night, the Nats gave their first one-hundred million dollar contract to Jayson Werth. The words “potentially burdensome” were used in the first paragraph of Adam Kilgore’s write-up to describe the 7 year, $126M deal in the Washington Post. Everyone expects now, as they expected then, that Werth’s tenure with the club will end when that contract comes to an end at the end of the season.
World Series or Bust
“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
– some dead nun
Countless Cubs fans lived their whole lives and never saw their beloved team win the World Series. The same goes for generations of Red Sox fans. Some teams were good. A lot were bad. And every year ended the same – with a loss and the promise of next year. Because winning the World Series is hard. Even when you have the best team. The euphoria that gripped Chicago last year, and Boston before that, was long overdue – for those still alive to enjoy it. Will any of us still be alive if and when the Nationals ever win it all?
Mike Rizzo Has Work To Do
The Nats avoided 2018 arbitration with Bryce Harper by settling his 2018 contract early. The timing seems weird and when asked, Mike Rizzo offered up “cost certainty” as an explanation. Knowing now what is on the books for 2018 will reduce the variables Rizzo will need to consider as he looks into trades to upgrade the roster.
New Look, Same Strasburg
Stephen Strasburg looks different this year. He’s ditched his wind-up and is pitching exclusively from the stretch. He’s also grown a beard. Has either made a difference?
Pay Bryce Harper
I believe the Nats should re-sign Bryce Harper, and they should do it as soon as possible.
Will it take $400 million?
At least that. Probably more.
But they should do it anyway.
Is he worth it? Can the Nats afford it? Why now? Continue Reading Pay Bryce Harper
Where to Hit Turner (and Everybody Else)
Debate over who should lead off for the Nationals began as soon as Mike Rizzo dealt three top pitchers (they may leave our farm system, but never our hearts) for Adam Eaton. Eaton’s calling card was his ability to lead off and play great outfield defense – two things Trea Turner did for the 2016 version of the Nats. But Eaton took Turner’s centerfield spot, so Turner took Danny Espinosa‘s shortstop job, and Danny was sent home to California to grow his beard. Turner managed to keep his leadoff job coming out of spring training, but not coming off the DL as Dusty Baker used the return of Turner to switch a few things up. I wouldn’t stop there — I’d go a step further. Here would be my lineup: