Cubs (35-50) at Nationals (42-43)

Wizards2Lottery · Post #1 » by **Wizards2Lottery** » Mon Jul 4, 2011 2:31 pm

Four game series starting today. Hopefully we can take 3 out of the 4 and get back above .500.

Jordan Zimmerman pitching today.

Post #2 » by **pineappleheadindc** » Tue Jul 5, 2011 4:11 am

A wild pitch GW "rbi".

Nats have won all kinds of close games this year through various odd circumstance.

I'm still SMH at Matt Stairs being on my team.

Post #3 » by **Jollay** » Tue Jul 5, 2011 12:50 pm

Nats are SERIOUSLY banged up at this point. Nix playing first for the first time since high school. Really they just need to limp into the break close to .500--they're hurting. Even Pine's very own Matt Stairs is hurting.

But LOL at the Cubs letting Werth steal third without them paying attention yesterday and then come home on the WP. That team just sucks at baseball.

Post #4 » by **pineappleheadindc** » Wed Jul 6, 2011 1:43 am

Werth has left seven (7) runners on base tonight.

He's the definition of "anti-clutch".

Oh, and thanks for nothing in the bottom of the 8th, Matt Stairs.

:nonono:

If it weren't for starting pitching, Clip and Storen (and good fielding), we'd be sunk.

Wizards2Lottery · Post #5 » by **Wizards2Lottery** » Wed Jul 6, 2011 12:10 pm

It is seriously amazing how this team is above .500 with how awful the hitting is.

I love our bullpen. Besides Sean Burnett, I have faith in all of them to come in and lock it down.

Post #6 » by **Rafael122** » Wed Jul 6, 2011 12:30 pm

Why is Matt Stairs still on this team!?

Ed Wood · Post #7 » by **Ed Wood** » Wed Jul 6, 2011 3:09 pm

The team really needs to facilitate Matt Stair's quest to play for every single team; he's not going to trade himself (they'd have to waive him and then there's no certainty anyone would pick him up, right now so he might end up a free agent). I suppose that, beyond whatever veteran wiles he has to offer (maybe he's acting as a second hitting coach or something) the one reason the team might be hesitant to release him is the fact that there's no obvious in-house replacement and there is value in what is theoretically a bat with theoretical power of the bench. On the other hand roughly anybody could do what Stairs has done for the team as a hitter this year so I'm not sure what's up.

Also clutch, CLUTCH. I am ashamed of you Pine.

Post #8 » by **pineappleheadindc** » Thu Jul 7, 2011 1:10 am

^
Sorry Ed Wood.

:hanging my head in shame:

Speaking of which, Jayson Werth should be hanging his head in shame too. I think even Matt Stairs would give us better ABs than Werth. He needs to sit for a little bit.

Post #9 » by **Jollay** » Thu Jul 7, 2011 2:24 am

pineappleheadindc wrote:^
Sorry Ed Wood.

:hanging my head in shame:

Speaking of which, Jayson Werth should be hanging his head in shame too. I think even Matt Stairs would give us better ABs than Werth. He needs to sit for a little bit.

I don't see why he can't bat ninth behind the pitcher for a couple games. The fans would appreciate it.

To sum up his performance, missed a very catchable ball that preceded a homer to tie the game, and led the Nats in their horrid 1-16 RISP performance.

But they still win and can sweep Thursday!!!! Wow. Gorzy literally had three balls caught at the warning track by Bernadina as well.

Wizards2Lottery · Post #10 » by **Wizards2Lottery** » Thu Jul 7, 2011 1:05 pm

Roger is just a nice solid player. I'm a fan.

Post #11 » by **Rafael122** » Thu Jul 7, 2011 1:40 pm

Rodriguez could straight up nasty if he can figure out how to locate his fastball. That slider of his is filthy. I'm coming around on the trade, at first I thought giving up Willingham would hurt us offensively, but this kid can be lights out if he can figure everything out.

Any word on Espinosa?

Post #12 » by **Jollay** » Thu Jul 7, 2011 4:05 pm

Rafael122 wrote:Rodriguez could straight up nasty if he can figure out how to locate his fastball. That slider of his is filthy. I'm coming around on the trade, at first I thought giving up Willingham would hurt us offensively, but this kid can be lights out if he can figure everything out.

Any word on Espinosa?

Forgot about Danny--came up limp on a steal early but it didn't seem like it affected his play any. Hope its nothing.

Yeah, Rodriguez is starting to figure it out. Nats definitely have some depth and options to trade both starting and relief pitching at the deadline, but obviously if they keep climbing they won't. Nice to have that option if somebody is willing to give up a small fortune for even a Tyler Clippard, though.

And someone may--what, is K-Rod and his salary really that much better an option?

Just thinking out loud--very unlikely to happen, but possible.

Post #13 » by **Rafael122** » Thu Jul 7, 2011 4:27 pm

Even if we're not in contention, I still wouldn't trade Clippard. What for? He's young, he's cheap, and he's good. Build on that, I think this team is past the point of trading their guys for prospects, it's time to start building a team. Hell, if we're 4-5 games over .500 by the deadline, who's to say we couldn't make a run at someone and try to make a push?

Post #14 » by **Rafael122** » Fri Jul 8, 2011 12:46 pm

Epic collapse by the Nats last night. WOW.

Post #15 » by **Jollay** » Fri Jul 8, 2011 2:46 pm

Rafael122 wrote:Even if we're not in contention, I still wouldn't trade Clippard. What for? He's young, he's cheap, and he's good. Build on that, I think this team is past the point of trading their guys for prospects, it's time to start building a team. Hell, if we're 4-5 games over .500 by the deadline, who's to say we couldn't make a run at someone and try to make a push?

I highly doubt they will, and I'm not sure I would either. He's a great clubhouse guy too, and he likes being here.

But if you think about it, the possibility exists. We got Ramos for Matt Capps last year--what would a contender give up for Clippard down the stretch if we got a young starter for Capps? And the Nats have the young arms to replace him.