If you’re reading the pages of this website, it’s hard to believe that you missed the fracas that broke out in the 8th inning of the Nationals 3-0 win against the San Francisco Giants on Memorial Day. Well today, the news broke that Hunter Strickland was suspended six games for his beaning of Bryce Harper, who himself got four games from his helmet chucking charge of the mound.
Continue Reading Were the Harper and Strickland Suspensions Fair?
On Monday, the Washington Nationals begin a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Here are a few a few storylines to watch:
Welcome back to the latest in a series, in which we review the previous week in Nationals baseball and power rank the players according to their performance. This is an extremely unscientific exercise; at no point should it ever be confused with actual baseball analysis. Don’t worry, I will do my best to make sure that is obvious. Without further ado: your Washington Nationals, ranked according to power.
After being DFA’d by the Phillies during the offseason, Jimmy Cordero was given a new opportunity when he was traded to the Nationals in exchange for a PTBNL a few days later. Cordero spent much of 2016 battling a shoulder injury, limping his way to a disappointing 5.00 ERA and a career low 6.3 K/9. Once considered a potentially elite back of the bullpen prospect, injuries derailed Cordero’s career. With a fresh start and an invitation to spring training, Cordero was ready to put his injury plagued 2016 behind him and focus on earning his first major league call up. However, things quickly went south for the young Dominican. Continue Reading Jimmy Cordero and the Tale of Two Months
There’s nothing quite like narrowly escaping a sweep by the Atlanta Braves to really put life, love, liberty, and the Washington Nationals off-field happenings into perspective.
Continue Reading Off-the-Field Recap: Jose Marmolejos Is In This One
Pain. As we reach the quarter point of the season, the Nationals have hit their first real rough patch, losing four of six to teams that are a combined 12 games under .500. The Pirates, who have the second-worst offense in MLB, scored 20 runs over the three-game series. The Braves were one of the most power deficient offenses in the league—especially so without Nat-killer extraordinaire Freddie Freeman. Atlanta hit six home runs in their two victories before Strasburg dealt them the Ace of Spades and shut them down over 7.2 IP. For all the good the Nationals have, there are some cracks in the foundation. For the starting pitching, the bullpen, lineup, and bench, we will look at the areas of concern, and how significant they are.
Continue Reading Nationals Recent Losing Streak Highlights Deficiencies
It’s a drizzly night in DC, and Anthony Rendon, mellow as ever, is sitting in the dugout, waiting for his turn to hit. Trea Turner approaches his favorite player and asks him what his approach is going to be in his at-bat. Rendon shrugs and answers, “I’m going to drive in all the runs tonight.”
Continue Reading Anthony Rendon Commits Baseball Murder: No Indigtment
The Nationals bullpen is… well… underperforming. No one has taken the closer’s role by the horns. There’s a void at the back end of the bullpen as wide as the Grand Canyon. Yet, I legitimately think that there is an answer for that void in the Nats organization: Joe Ross.
Ross has struggled this year as a starter. He has an ERA and FIP well over 5.00 entering Tuesday’s game against the Mariners, his home run rate is astronomical, and his velocity is way down… late in his starts. If only there was a role that existed in a major league organization where a pitcher didn’t need to throw 100 pitches and could empty the proverbial tank with elite stuff before getting tired… Oh, wait, there is. And the Nats desperately need someone who can do that.
As has been mentioned in every single article about the Nationals for the past four weeks, their bullpen is bad. But for once, this is an article that isn’t (directly) about them.