MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Chicago White Sox are interested in trading for Adam Dunn to help jump start their terrible offense (the one that swept the Nats just over a week ago).
Well, according to Adam Kilgore at the Washington Post, there was a White Sox scout at the Nats/Braves game on Tuesday. Read into that what you will. In the game, Dunn went 0 for 5, with 3 strikeouts. Ouch. Now, I'm certainly not speculating that he blew his performance because the scout was there. However, Dunn is a smart guy, and I'm sure he knew that a scout was in the crowd. Maybe it was nerves because of that. Who knows? But one thing is for sure, Adam Dunn does not want to leave DC. He definitely doesn't want to leave DC to become a DH somewhere in the American League. He likes fielding, and he is getting better at it.
As someone who watches the Nats day in and day out, I acknowledge that the team is going to be dealing, not getting, star players this season. They're not good enough to contend, yet. But I, along with many people that I've spoken to, have become attached to the idea of Adam Dunn as a Washington National. I love seeing him play for the team, and I would like to see him stay with the club for several more years. Without him, Zimmerman has no power protection, and the Nats simply have no raw power on the team.
That said, realistically, Dunn's trade value is high right now and may be dealt before the July 31st deadline. One thing is for sure. If the Nats trade him, they better get someone good. If it's to the White Sox, it needs to be a front line starter. Mark Buehrle, perhaps? I know, I'm dreaming. Gavin Floyd AND another player? Maybe. 3 AA prospects? No longer going to cut it! Adam Dunn is one of the few quality power hitters in baseball today, and giving him up for prospects is an insult to him and to Nats fans that hope for a competing team in the reasonably near future.
Remember, stars usually aren't dying to sign contract extensions with a mediocre ball club like the Nats. This could be an opportunity that the Nats can take advantage of the situation. If they don't, they need to get something good that will produce today for the team. Not in 2, 3, 4, or more, years.... At some point, it's not going to be about building young guys, it's got to be about landing guys that are good NOW to push the team over the edge.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Stammen Dominates and Nats Get Some Confidence
Going into Tuesday's game against the NL East leading Braves, the Nats had lost 13 of their last 16 games. In that stretch they were swept by the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and the worst team in all of baseball, the Baltimore Orioles. The Nats became unwatchable. Well on Tuesday, their fates seem to change.
The Nats committed zero errors for only the 2nd time in the last 6 days and scored the most runs (7) that they've scored in more than two weeks. The Nats confidence was shot, and everyone hopes that this one win against the best team in their division will help get the train moving in the right direction.
The big story of the day was Craig Stammen's return to the MLB roster. Stammen was sent down on June 7th to AAA Syracuse to make room for Stephen Strasburg's promotion. In his last start in the majors, Stammen made a strong case to delay his demotion, pitching 6 2/3 innings of 1 run ball. But he was inexplicably pulled after throwing only 66 pitches. The Nats ultimately lost that game in 10 innings after Matt Capps blew a save. But the club's mind was made up. Stammen would be sent down... instead of J.D. Martin... for reasons passing understanding.
In Syracuse, Stammen put together a 2-0 record with a 2.25 ERA. Opposing hitters had a mere .237 average against him. In his June 18th outing against Gwinnett, he took a no-hitter into the 7th inning. It was enough to earn him a spot back on the DC roster when John Lannan had his breakdown and was sent to AA Harrisburg to figure himself out.
On Tuesday, Stammen didn't disappoint in his return to the majors. Stammen improved to 2-2 after throwing 7 1/3 innings of 5 hit, 2 run baseball. He recorded 15 ground ball outs and had his sinker working well enough to generate 4 strikeouts.
After Monday's abysmal error by Ian Desmond, he was on the bench in favor of Alberto Gonzalez on Tuesday. That made for AG's 3rd consecutive start, this time at shortstop. Alberto didn't disappoint. He went 4 for 4 with a run and an RBI. This probably makes the case for AG to stay in the line up for at least another day, although I suspect that Desmond will return to the lineup today. Riggleman isn't known for punishing his starters for more than one game this year. Gonzalez will probably (hopefully) see time at 2nd base.
So the Nats have broken the losing streak with a starting pitcher that wasn't named Strasburg. Zimmerman even got a hit that generated 2 RBI, and Nyjer Morgan bounced back with a 2 for 5 game. Maybe this is what will turn the skid around for the Nats. Only Wednesday's game will tell.
The Nats committed zero errors for only the 2nd time in the last 6 days and scored the most runs (7) that they've scored in more than two weeks. The Nats confidence was shot, and everyone hopes that this one win against the best team in their division will help get the train moving in the right direction.
The big story of the day was Craig Stammen's return to the MLB roster. Stammen was sent down on June 7th to AAA Syracuse to make room for Stephen Strasburg's promotion. In his last start in the majors, Stammen made a strong case to delay his demotion, pitching 6 2/3 innings of 1 run ball. But he was inexplicably pulled after throwing only 66 pitches. The Nats ultimately lost that game in 10 innings after Matt Capps blew a save. But the club's mind was made up. Stammen would be sent down... instead of J.D. Martin... for reasons passing understanding.
In Syracuse, Stammen put together a 2-0 record with a 2.25 ERA. Opposing hitters had a mere .237 average against him. In his June 18th outing against Gwinnett, he took a no-hitter into the 7th inning. It was enough to earn him a spot back on the DC roster when John Lannan had his breakdown and was sent to AA Harrisburg to figure himself out.
On Tuesday, Stammen didn't disappoint in his return to the majors. Stammen improved to 2-2 after throwing 7 1/3 innings of 5 hit, 2 run baseball. He recorded 15 ground ball outs and had his sinker working well enough to generate 4 strikeouts.
After Monday's abysmal error by Ian Desmond, he was on the bench in favor of Alberto Gonzalez on Tuesday. That made for AG's 3rd consecutive start, this time at shortstop. Alberto didn't disappoint. He went 4 for 4 with a run and an RBI. This probably makes the case for AG to stay in the line up for at least another day, although I suspect that Desmond will return to the lineup today. Riggleman isn't known for punishing his starters for more than one game this year. Gonzalez will probably (hopefully) see time at 2nd base.
So the Nats have broken the losing streak with a starting pitcher that wasn't named Strasburg. Zimmerman even got a hit that generated 2 RBI, and Nyjer Morgan bounced back with a 2 for 5 game. Maybe this is what will turn the skid around for the Nats. Only Wednesday's game will tell.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Tyler Clippard's Struggles & Nats Swept by MLB Worst Orioles
Tyler Clippard is still the Nationals wins leader with 8. He's still their strikeouts leader with 56. He's still in the top 10 in the NL in wins. He's 3rd in the NL in holds, an ideal spot for your setup man.
It's hard to be overly critical of a guy who has been as consistent and efficient as Clippard. In the 8 appearances prior to the series with the Orioles, he gave up just 8 hits and 1 run. He also notched 5 holds, a win, and his first career save.
But in Baltimore, Tyler Clippard didn't look like himself. His rising fastball wasn't rising. His vicious change up wasn't changing up. His slider wasn't sliding. In 2 appearances in Oriole Park, Clippard gave up 7 hits, only one shy of what he gave up in the previous 8 games. He also gave up 4 earned runs, quadruple the number that he gave up in the previous 8 appearances.
I bring this up only because it perfectly encapsulates the quality of baseball that Washington is playing in June, where even our best and most consistent players this season continue to struggle.
What didn't help Clippard, or any of the other pitchers this weekend, was the number of errors committed by the Nationals defense. In a 3 game series with Baltimore, the defense committed 5 errors, with 4 of them coming on Friday's remarkably depressing 7-6 loss. The Nats had a 6-0 lead in that game. Just to remind you, in case you've forgotten, they also blew a 5-0 lead on Saturday and a 3-0 lead on Sunday.
The Nationals were swept by the worst team in baseball. A team that, before the Nats came into town, had just gotten its 20th win on the season, just fired its manager, and had one of its stars asking for a trade before publicly apologizing to Satan... er... Peter Angelos.
The Nats seem to be cursed this month, so July can't come soon enough. Maybe that's what it will take to get out of the slump. Or, maybe it's Stephen Strasburg's start tonight against the NL East best Atlanta Braves. Who knows, but for the Nats, it needs to happen.
It's hard to be overly critical of a guy who has been as consistent and efficient as Clippard. In the 8 appearances prior to the series with the Orioles, he gave up just 8 hits and 1 run. He also notched 5 holds, a win, and his first career save.
But in Baltimore, Tyler Clippard didn't look like himself. His rising fastball wasn't rising. His vicious change up wasn't changing up. His slider wasn't sliding. In 2 appearances in Oriole Park, Clippard gave up 7 hits, only one shy of what he gave up in the previous 8 games. He also gave up 4 earned runs, quadruple the number that he gave up in the previous 8 appearances.
I bring this up only because it perfectly encapsulates the quality of baseball that Washington is playing in June, where even our best and most consistent players this season continue to struggle.
What didn't help Clippard, or any of the other pitchers this weekend, was the number of errors committed by the Nationals defense. In a 3 game series with Baltimore, the defense committed 5 errors, with 4 of them coming on Friday's remarkably depressing 7-6 loss. The Nats had a 6-0 lead in that game. Just to remind you, in case you've forgotten, they also blew a 5-0 lead on Saturday and a 3-0 lead on Sunday.
The Nationals were swept by the worst team in baseball. A team that, before the Nats came into town, had just gotten its 20th win on the season, just fired its manager, and had one of its stars asking for a trade before publicly apologizing to Satan... er... Peter Angelos.
The Nats seem to be cursed this month, so July can't come soon enough. Maybe that's what it will take to get out of the slump. Or, maybe it's Stephen Strasburg's start tonight against the NL East best Atlanta Braves. Who knows, but for the Nats, it needs to happen.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Morgan Has Career Game, but Nats Flounder in Frustrating Fashion
(Picture Captured from MASN-HD)
Nyjer Morgan had one of the best games of his career on Friday night in Baltimore in game one of the Battle of the Beltways. Morgan went 4 for 5, with 3 runs and an RBI. He reached base safely in his first 4 at bats. Nyjer was agressive and was just reading every Orioles pitcher as perfectly as you possibly could.
He was also lighting it up in the field, with one of the most amazing catches that I have ever seen, pictured above. T. Plush reached a ball that was easily 4 feet over the center field wall, which would have been a home run for Corey Patterson. After the remarkable catch, Patterson tipped his cap in recognition of the catch as a fellow center fielder. Nats starting pitcher J.D. Martin Miguel Tejada was less grateful when Nyjer stole extra bases from him a few innings later with a running catch.
The Nats were up 6-0 in the 5th and looked to be the dominant team. J.D. Martin pitched a decent game, one that was good enough to earn him a win, even if it was only 4 1/3 innings. And then, for reasons passing understanding, Jim Riggleman decided to use 6 of the 8 guys in the bullpen. Maybe just because he could? But after several great innings from the 'pen, Tyler Clippard came in and gave up 4 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks in 1 1/3 innings in the 8th and 9th innings. Matt Capps came in to try to just keep the Nats in it with 2 runners on base and gave up an inherited run to his first batter in the bottom of the 9th for a walk off, earning Tyler Clippard his 4th loss on the season.
That's right folks. The Washington Nationals, after the remarkable start to the game, blew a 6-0 lead to lose to the worst team in all of baseball.
At the end, batters were over-swinging. They were frustrated. Maybe with themselves, maybe with the pitching disaster by Clippard. There is no excuse for giving up a 6 run lead to the team with the worst record in baseball and the 2nd worst RBI count. But Clippard did just that, and the Nats lost another game that should have been an easy win.
At this point in the season, you have to wonder, where has the confidence gone? Where is the swagger of this once passably decent ball club? If you find it, call Jim Riggleman. He needs your help.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Strasburg and Nats Go for the Kill
After a shockingly bad month of baseball, the Nats have taken 2 of 3 from the Kansas City Royals and will go for the sweep this afternoon with Stephen Strasburg on the mount. The Nats bats came alive last night, with Josh Willingham hitting his 100th career home run and Adam Dunn crushing his 17th on the season.
The team is still unable to get those home runs with runners on base, but they did tally 11 hits on the game on Tuesday. Stephen Strasburg, the rookie with 3 starts, 3 MLB records, and extensive talk about making the All-Star team will face the Royals RHP Brian Bannister who is 6-5, but has a very high 5.70 ERA and only 47 Ks in 14 games. Strasburg (2-0), in case you haven't been obsessively following like the rest of the baseball world, has a 1.86 ERA and 32 strike outs. Again, that's in only 3 starts.
Strasburg looks to continue his dominance today and, for the first time in a while, not be the stopper for a losing streak. Lineups will be out in the next few hours, and with a day game after a night game, you hope to not see a lot of bench players starting.
For now, I go back to having the shakes in minute 76 of the USA World Cup game...
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Nats Try to Salvage Season against Royals
On Monday, the Nationals took a big step in the right direction. First, by breaking a 6 game losing streak. Second, by scoring enough runs... 2... to land a starter a win whose name isn't Stephen Strasburg. The last time the Nats got a win that wasn't started by Strasburg was 10 days ago from Livan Hernandez.
To take it a bit further: The last Washington Nationals starter to get a win that isn't named Strasburg or Hernandez was on May 31st. 20 games ago. That was Luis Atilano. Unfortunately, this has become the problem with starting pitchers over the last month or so. The Nats simply can't score enough runs to win, even when their starters give them a quality outing.
Well, Monday night the 2 runs were enough to take out the abysmal Royals. Although the Royals are 17-19 in their last 36. I don't think we even want to discuss what the Nats record is over that time frame. (The answer is 12-24... yea... ouch.)
The Nats look for a sweep of this series to get their derailed season back on track. Not on track for the wild card, or the division, but for respectability. They'll have to do so on Tuesday on the remarkable 5-4 record of Luis Atilano and hits unsavory 4.77 ERA. The Nats will face Royals RHP Anthony Lerew for the win. Lerew has only 15 games of MLB experience since 2005, and it will be only his 2nd start on the year. If there is a day for the Nats bats to wake up, it must be Tuesday against this greenhorn starter.
The Nats have a 4:35 pm start from Strasburg on Wednesday, and hopefully that can end this series with a 3 game winning streak to take the trip to Baltimore for a 3 game series against the MLB worse Orioles (19-50). Last year on this date, the Nationals were 21-47, so yes, the Orioles are on pace to be worse than the Nats were last year. Take THAT Peter Angelos... Oh, what's that? You're making money on the Nationals success this year? Damn.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Lannan Heads North; Detwiler Ready?; Zimmermann Ahead of Schedule
John Lannan's season wasn't quite what everyone expectedfrom the guy who was the Opening Day starter in 2010. No one expected a 10-0 start and a 0.73 ERA, but they expected a stable start every 5 days. In the end, Lannan went through some sort of elbow issues in the first half of the season, but all in all, he just was unable to locate his pitches. He simply couldn't get it done. It's something you just hate to see from a guy like Lannan, who showed lots of promise both on and off the field.
Unfortunately, Lannan's 2-5 record and 5.76 ERA just wasn't enough, and he was demoted to AA Harrisburg today. A move that 2 weeks ago, I would have told you would never ever happen. But failing to make it 5 innings in 2 consecutive starts and sporting almost a 6.00 ERA wouldn't have saved anyone in baseball halfway through the season. Joining the Nats will be RHP Joel Peralta, who has been a reliever for his entire career in Kansas City, Anaheim, and Colorado.
One last thing to encourage Nats fans, though, is that LHP Ross Detwiler has been taken from the 60-Day DL and is now in the rotation down in Harrisburg. With Peralta's promotion, that leaves the Nationals with two options as I can see it for the rotation.
I was surprised that Peralta was promoted, considering Manager Jim Riggleman said this past week that Craig Stammen had a shot at making the bullpen in DC. But it wasn't to be, yet at least. There are still many huge decision to be made in DC over the next few weeks with one big pitcher coming off of the DL and 3 big starters (Wang, Zimmermann, Marquis) schedule to come off before the season ends.
Detwiler will be ready very soon, and so will Jordan Zimmermann. The question with Zimmermann will be whether he comes out of the bullpen or if he joins the rotation, and when. Even by Mike Rizzo's account, J. Zimm is way ahead of schedule, and by all accounts he will NOT be rushed back. It is encouraging, though that Zimmermann was in uniform throughout the weekend series with the White Sox and threw a simulated game of 35 pitches on Friday before the game. Maybe the organization knows something we don't.
The games haven't been very exciting lately, but one thing is for sure. The promotions and demotions will be fast and furious over the next few months, and with only about 40 days until the trade deadline, the Nationals front office may be more interesting to watch than the team over the next few weeks. Stay tuned...
Unfortunately, Lannan's 2-5 record and 5.76 ERA just wasn't enough, and he was demoted to AA Harrisburg today. A move that 2 weeks ago, I would have told you would never ever happen. But failing to make it 5 innings in 2 consecutive starts and sporting almost a 6.00 ERA wouldn't have saved anyone in baseball halfway through the season. Joining the Nats will be RHP Joel Peralta, who has been a reliever for his entire career in Kansas City, Anaheim, and Colorado.
One last thing to encourage Nats fans, though, is that LHP Ross Detwiler has been taken from the 60-Day DL and is now in the rotation down in Harrisburg. With Peralta's promotion, that leaves the Nationals with two options as I can see it for the rotation.
- Go with a 4 man rotation for a little while. They have a day off on Thursday, so it's possible.
- Pull Miguel Batista from the bullpen and give him a spot start or two until you figure out who the 5th man is.
I was surprised that Peralta was promoted, considering Manager Jim Riggleman said this past week that Craig Stammen had a shot at making the bullpen in DC. But it wasn't to be, yet at least. There are still many huge decision to be made in DC over the next few weeks with one big pitcher coming off of the DL and 3 big starters (Wang, Zimmermann, Marquis) schedule to come off before the season ends.
Detwiler will be ready very soon, and so will Jordan Zimmermann. The question with Zimmermann will be whether he comes out of the bullpen or if he joins the rotation, and when. Even by Mike Rizzo's account, J. Zimm is way ahead of schedule, and by all accounts he will NOT be rushed back. It is encouraging, though that Zimmermann was in uniform throughout the weekend series with the White Sox and threw a simulated game of 35 pitches on Friday before the game. Maybe the organization knows something we don't.
The games haven't been very exciting lately, but one thing is for sure. The promotions and demotions will be fast and furious over the next few months, and with only about 40 days until the trade deadline, the Nationals front office may be more interesting to watch than the team over the next few weeks. Stay tuned...
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