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:
Tag Archives: Bryce Harper
Lobaton Dings Off Harvey, Hilarity Ensues
Some days the universe works to wreak havoc. It laughs at the person realizing they studied the wrong chapters for an exam or at the person getting in the wrong metro car when they were already late. Some days, the culmination of events is just so perverse that it laughs you recount every life event that led the victim to their moment of reckoning.
Off-The-Field Recap: The Nats Are Risen
*Extremely Michael Buffer voice:* ARE YOU READY TO REEECAAAAPPPP?
Bryce Blasts Walkoff Bomb
Sunday, Gio Gonzalez went seven and 1/3 innings to give the Nationals a 3-1 lead before the bullpen worked on the knowledge that Bryce Harper can’t hit a walk-off bomb if they don’t blow a lead first.
Nats Power Rankings: April 17
Welcome to the first 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 unserious 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.
Nats Make Waves at Caps Game
After a 4-2 loss to the Phillies Saturday, a group of Nationals and company witnessed an exhausting double OT Capitals loss in Game Two of their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night. The boys were undeniable there, despite significantly less evidence of the outing than previous team adventures to Caps games and significantly fewer cowboy hats.
Who’s Hot and Who’s Not
It’s obviously early in the season — small sample size and all that — but there are some Nationals who have clearly started the season hot and others… who have not. So let’s pick a couple Nats who are hot right now, and some who are not and figure out if they will stay that way.
Nats Dogpile in Walkoff Win
Daniel Murphy put a ball into the left field corner in the tenth inning against deposed Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez, allowing Bryce Harper to dig his way from first to score the winning run. In typical Bryce fashion, he lost his helmet on his way from third to home, where he was greeted by one-man-dog-pile Jayson Werth.
Off-the-Field Recap: The Return
Guess what’s back. Back again. The recap’s back. Tell a friend. (It’s the recap, the off-field recap is back).
The Nationals’ Window Isn’t Closing, As Far As We Know
Two years is a long time in baseball.
Continue Reading The Nationals’ Window Isn’t Closing, As Far As We Know