Why the Nationals will win it all

[DCPatriot]

Why the Nationals will win it all
By Jayson Stark


The Nationals wrapped up the NL East almost two weeks ago.

snip......

 Over the last 90 games (during which they've gone a white-hot 59-31), the Nationals have the best record in the National League and tied the Angels and Orioles for the best record in baseball.

These guys haven't lost more than two games in a row, at any point, since June 27. And you'd be hard-pressed to figure out a real area of weakness on their team.

They lead the major leagues in ERA and starting-pitching ERA. They're second in bullpen ERA. And their staff just finished reeling off the greatest single-season strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.66-1) in history.

Their offense ranks in the top four in the league in runs scored, home runs, on-base percentage and stolen-base success rate. And they're 74-11 when they score four runs or more.

"There's no question in my mind," said one NL scout, "that they're set up to go deeper than anyone else. And it's not that complicated why. They're just so talented."

Yeah, but they've still got a lot of talented company in this field. So let's take a look at the other "favorites" in this tournament, and break down why our panel saw the Nationals as the team to beat.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/11611761/why-nats-win-world-series

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[famousdayandyear]

Yes!

Then throw out the designated hitter in the AL and there will be PERFECTION on planet Earth

[evadR]

Wouldn't I just love to see the "Battle of the Beltways" in the series...
Os vs Nats

[DCPatriot]

Wouldn't I just love to see the "Battle of the Beltways" in the series...
Os vs Nats

Much as I love and follow the NATS, who came back to Washington in 2005...I've been an Orioles' fan since 1972 when I moved to the Washington region from Western New York State.  I would cheer for the Orioles.

BTW.....

My son Adam, 27, asked me the other day in the car (we were going to see Cliff)...."Dad, what do you think of Derek Jeter retiring?"

I said, "Adam....I've see Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron....and the entire careers of Ken Griffey, Jr. and Cal Ripken, Jr's careers come and go."

He said that put it into quite a perspective.   

[DCPatriot]

Looking back....Strasburg should have started Game 3....not Game 1.

It's tough to have to win 3 our of 4 now.

[flowers]

Looking back....Strasburg should have started Game 3....not Game 1.

It's tough to have to win 3 our of 4 now.

Who is the manager of the Nats this year?

[flowers]

Saturday, October 4
5:30 PM    NLDS Gm 2    Giants @ Nationals    Hudson (9-13), Zimmermann (14-5)    FS1
9:30 PM    NLDS Gm 2    Cardinals @ Dodgers    Lynn (15-10), Greinke (17-8)    MLBN
Sunday, October 5
3:30 PM    ALDS Gm 3    Orioles @ Tigers    Gonzalez (10-9), Price (15-12)    TBS
7:30 PM    ALDS Gm 3    Angels @ Royals    Wilson (13-10), Shields (14-8)    TBS
Monday, October 6
TBD    NLDS Gm 3    Dodgers @ Cardinals    Ryu (14-7), Lackey (14-10)    FS1
TBD    NLDS Gm 3    Nationals @ Giants    Fister (16-6), TBD    MLBN
TBD    ALDS Gm 4*    Orioles @ Tigers    Norris (15-8), Porcello (15-13)    TBS
6:00 PM    ALDS Gm 4*    Angels @ Royals    Weaver (18-9), Guthrie (13-11)    TBS
* if necessary
Tuesday, October 7
TBD    NLDS Gm 4*    Dodgers @ Cardinals    TBD, Miller (10-9)    FS1
TBD    NLDS Gm 4*    Nationals @ Giants    Pitchers TBD    FS1
* if necessary
Wednesday, October 8
TBD    ALDS Gm 5*    Tigers @ Orioles    Pitchers TBD    TBS
TBD    ALDS Gm 5*    Royals @ Angels    Pitchers TBD    TBS
* if necessary
Thursday, October 9
TBD    NLDS Gm 5*    Cardinals @ Dodgers    Pitchers TBD    FS1
TBD    NLDS Gm 5*    Giants @ Nationals    Pitchers TBD    FS1
* if necessary
Friday, October 10
TBD    ALCS Gm 1    AL Lower Seed @ AL Higher Seed    Pitchers TBD    TBS
Saturday, October 11
TBD    NLCS Gm 1    NL Lower Seed @ NL Higher Seed    Pitchers TBD    FOX
TBD    ALCS Gm 2    AL Lower Seed @ AL Higher Seed    Pitchers TBD    TBS
Sunday, October 12
TBD    NLCS Gm 2    NL Lower Seed @ NL Higher Seed    Pitchers TBD    FS1
Monday, October 13
TBD    ALCS Gm 3    AL Higher Seed @ AL Lower Seed    Pitchers TBD    TBS
Tuesday, October 14
TBD    NLCS Gm 3    NL Higher Seed @ NL Lower Seed    Pitchers TBD    FS1
TBD    ALCS Gm 4    AL Higher Seed @ AL Lower Seed    Pitchers TBD    TBS
Wednesday, October 15
TBD    NLCS Gm 4    NL Higher Seed @ NL Lower Seed    Pitchers TBD    FS1
TBD    ALCS Gm 5*    AL Higher Seed @ AL Lower Seed    Pitchers TBD    TBS
* if necessary
Thursday, October 16
TBD    NLCS Gm 5*    NL Higher Seed @ NL Lower Seed    Pitchers TBD    FS1
* if necessary
Friday, October 17
TBD    ALCS Gm 6*    AL Lower Seed @ AL Higher Seed    Pitchers TBD    TBS
* if necessary
Saturday, October 18
TBD    NLCS Gm 6*    NL Lower Seed @ NL Higher Seed    Pitchers TBD    FOX
TBD    ALCS Gm 7*    AL Lower Seed @ AL Higher Seed    Pitchers TBD    TBS
* if necessary
Sunday, October 19
TBD    NLCS Gm 7*    NL Lower Seed @ NL Higher Seed    Pitchers TBD    FS1
* if necessary
Tuesday, October 21
TBD    WS Gm 1    NL Champion @ AL Champion    Pitchers TBD    FOX
Wednesday, October 22
TBD    WS Gm 2    NL Champion @ AL Champion    Pitchers TBD    FOX
Friday, October 24
TBD    WS Gm 3    AL Champion @ NL Champion    Pitchers TBD    FOX
Saturday, October 25
TBD    WS Gm 4    AL Champion @ NL Champion    Pitchers TBD    FOX
Sunday, October 26
TBD    WS Gm 5*    AL Champion @ NL Champion    Pitchers TBD    FOX
* if necessary
Tuesday, October 28
TBD    WS Gm 6*    NL Champion @ AL Champion    Pitchers TBD    FOX
* if necessary
Wednesday, October 29
TBD    WS Gm 7*    NL Champion @ AL Champion    Pitchers TBD    FOX
* if necessary
Game Results
Tuesday, September 30
F/12    ALWC    Athletics 8, Royals 9    W: Frasor, L: Otero    WRAP
Wednesday, October 1
FINAL    NLWC    Giants 8, Pirates 0    W: Bumgarner, L: Volquez    WRAP
Thursday, October 2
FINAL    ALDS Gm 1    Tigers 3, Orioles 12    W: Tillman, L: Scherzer    WRAP
F/11    ALDS Gm 1    Royals 3, Angels 2    W: Duffy, L: Salas    WRAP
Friday, October 3
FINAL    ALDS Gm 2    Tigers 6, Orioles 7    W: Brach, L: Soria    WRAP
FINAL    NLDS Gm 1    Giants 3, Nationals 2    W: Peavy, L: Strasburg    WRAP
FINAL    NLDS Gm 1    Cardinals 10, Dodgers 9    W: Gonzales, L: Kershaw    WRAP
F/11    ALDS Gm 2    Royals 4, Angels 1    W: Finnegan, L: Jepsen

http://m.mlb.com/postseason-schedule

[DCPatriot]

Who is the manager of the Nats this year?

Former all-star SF GIANTS' 3rd baseman Matt Williams, who recently came out of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.

[truth_seeker]

Wouldn't I just love to see the "Battle of the Beltways" in the series...
Os vs Nats

I'd like to see a series between the Dodgers and Angels.

[evadR]

Yeah, if it was a beltway series, I'd have to go with the Os. Right now, I'd like to see the Nats get to 2 and 2 and take my chances on the 5th game.

[DCPatriot]

Yeah, if it was a beltway series, I'd have to go with the Os. Right now, I'd like to see the Nats get to 2 and 2 and take my chances on the 5th game.

The loss yesterday can be laid squarely at the feet of ian Desmond...who looked like a Little Leaguer at the plate both with the bases loaded (strikeout) and later with 1 out and men on 1st and 3rd. (strikeout ...swinging at two pitches a foot off the plate).  He looked desperate.

And also, Ramos, the NATS' catcher for that ridiculous passed ball that moved two runners up...guy on 3rd scored on a Sac Fly...making it 3-0.

But Desmond looked pathetic...not having a clue.

[DCPatriot]

DRUDGE headline:

POPE: 'I believe in angels'...


DCPatriot: 

I believe in Royals!   

[DCPatriot]

NOTE:   Total bullsh*t.....the length of time between team half-innings and At Bats during the TV telecast.  Much too long.

IMO, it's a delay that kills momentum and pitchers shouldn't have to wait that long before they can get the game going again.  It's ridiculous!

[massadvj]

Great game so far tonight...

[DCPatriot]

Great game so far tonight...

I can't stand it.....pathetic.   

[DCPatriot]

Great game so far tonight...

The homeplate ump robbed Zimmermann....that should have been a strikeout TWICE.  Instead, he walked him with 2 outs.

He gave Hudson the outside corner liberally...all freaking nite long.

[massadvj]

The homeplate ump robbed Zimmermann....that should have been a strikeout TWICE.  Instead, he walked him with 2 outs.

He gave Hudson the outside corner liberally...all freaking nite long.

I've seen this before.  Umps don't like to end the game on close calls.  They want that last out to be clean.  I think Washington has the game in hand, anyway.

[DCPatriot]

I've seen this before.  Umps don't like to end the game on close calls.  They want that last out to be clean.  I think Washington has the game in hand, anyway.

Your words to God's ears.   

[massadvj]

Your words to God's ears.   

I don't have a dog in this hunt.  But it's a good hunt anyway.  Those ejections might have turned the momentum around.  I think the Nationals' whole season hinges on this game.  It's a mistake for a manager to get himself ejected when so much is on the line.

[DCPatriot]

I don't have a dog in this hunt.  But it's a good hunt anyway.  Those ejections might have turned the momentum around.  I think the Nationals' whole season hinges on this game.  It's a mistake for a manager to get himself ejected when so much is on the line.

That umpire conference at homplate after the ejections must have gone like this:

"WTF??  Are you blind?  Stop making yourself part of the game!"

[DCPatriot]

Great game so far tonight...

Grudgingly...have to agree with you, Vic!   

[DCPatriot]

I don't have a dog in this hunt.  But it's a good hunt anyway.  Those ejections might have turned the momentum around.  I think the Nationals' whole season hinges on this game.  It's a mistake for a manager to get himself ejected when so much is on the line.

You can be sure Williams is still pulling the strings...in the tunnel.  LOL!

[massadvj]

That umpire conference at homplate after the ejections must have gone like this:

"WTF??  Are you blind?  Stop making yourself part of the game!"

No way.  Umps stick together.  They huddled because they don't want to lose control of the game.

[massadvj]

You can be sure Williams is still pulling the strings...in the tunnel.  LOL!

I don't doubt that.  But it showed the Giants that the Nationals are rattled.  There are times when a manager might use an ejection to motivate his team, but it is usually a desperation move.  In baseball, the most disciplined team usually wins.

[DCPatriot]

I don't doubt that.  But it showed the Giants that the Nationals are rattled.  There are times when a manager might use an ejection to motivate his team, but it is usually a desperation move.  In baseball, the most disciplined team usually wins.

Naw.....Williams had to go out to show he had Cabrera's back.  The ump is terrible tonight.  Rendon was robbed leading off the 11th on that 3-2 pitch.

Notice they wouldn't dare show the box graphic on the outside pitches all night?

He sucks.

[sinkspur]

The call on Cabrera was correct.  Outside corner.  It is undisciplined for a player to slam a bat down on home plate over a call strike.  And the manager, of course, comes out and gets tossed too.

Nationals have a runner on second and one out, so this may turn in your favor anyway. 

Cardinals are going to be the National League Team and may win it all.

[DCPatriot]

The call on Cabrera was correct.  Outside corner.  It is undisciplined for a player to slam a bat down on home plate over a call strike.  And the manager, of course, comes out and gets tossed too.

Nationals have a runner on second and one out, so this may turn in your favor anyway. 

Cardinals are going to be the National League Team and may win it all.

I agree on the called strike three...but come one....strike two was ridiculous.

Yeah....Mattingly was nuts to leave Kershaw in when the bases were loaded.  Terrible decision.

[DCPatriot]

Geez....it's the 17th inning.  Game is 6 hours long  still tied 1-1

[massadvj]

Not tied now...

[DCPatriot]

Not tied now...

 

[massadvj]

 

The Nationals would not be here if they were not capable of coming back.

[massadvj]

Tough game, DC.  Hated to see either team lose.  I think a Dodger-Giant NLCS would be interesting. 

[famousdayandyear]

Longest postseason game?

[DCPatriot]

The Nationals would not be here if they were not capable of coming back.

Will say it one more time....and it's not just "sour grapes".

Even the MLB postgame show agreed with me.  That game was too big of a venue for that effing umpire.  You don't squeeze  Jordon Zimmerman who's throwing a shutout with two outs in the ninth....on balls you were calling strikes all f*cking night long.  He called that pitch a 'strike' ALL NIGHT LONG!

And then to call low AND high strikes against Washington afterwards was a felony, IMO.  I thought he robbed Harper in the 10th....so did the postgame panel.

As I told Sinkspur...Asdrubel Cabrera should have walked on the penultimate pitch of the AB in the 11th...and then he follows it again on a slightly less obvious pitch?  YOU CAN"T GIVE THE UMP BOTH EAST-WEST and NORTH-SOUTH.

I knew this was going to happen when I saw the last few games of the regular season.  The NATS would consistently have DOUBLE DIGIT basehits and only one or two runs to show for it.

They suck with RISP.

But the umpire injected himself into that GAME.  It's a damned shame. 

A damned shame. 

[flowers]

Former all-star SF GIANTS' 3rd baseman Matt Williams, who recently came out of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.

Thanks I asked that already this year didn't i?

[flowers]

Will say it one more time....and it's not just "sour grapes".

Even the MLB postgame show agreed with me.  That game was too big of a venue for that effing umpire.  You don't squeeze  Jordon Zimmerman who's throwing a shutout with two outs in the ninth....on balls you were calling strikes all f*cking night long.  He called that pitch a 'strike' ALL NIGHT LONG!

And then to call low AND high strikes against Washington afterwards was a felony, IMO.  I thought he robbed Harper in the 10th....so did the postgame panel.

As I told Sinkspur...Asdrubel Cabrera should have walked on the penultimate pitch of the AB in the 11th...and then he follows it again on a slightly less obvious pitch?  YOU CAN"T GIVE THE UMP BOTH EAST-WEST and NORTH-SOUTH.

I knew this was going to happen when I saw the last few games of the regular season.  The NATS would consistently have DOUBLE DIGIT basehits and only one or two runs to show for it.

They suck with RISP.

But the umpire injected himself into that GAME.  It's a damned shame. 

A damned shame.

What is the name of the ump? Fletcher? Angel Hernandes?

[flowers]

Saturday, October 4
F/18    NLDS Gm 2    Giants 2, Nationals 1    W: Petit, L: Roark    WRAP
FINAL    NLDS Gm 2    Cardinals 2, Dodgers 3    W: League, L: Neshek    WRAP

Well crap, I don't get MLBN or FS1 channels, I would like to see the Dodger game and the nats game. Oh well will look here for info.

[massadvj]

Will say it one more time....and it's not just "sour grapes".

Even the MLB postgame show agreed with me.  That game was too big of a venue for that effing umpire.  You don't squeeze  Jordon Zimmerman who's throwing a shutout with two outs in the ninth....on balls you were calling strikes all f*cking night long.  He called that pitch a 'strike' ALL NIGHT LONG!

And then to call low AND high strikes against Washington afterwards was a felony, IMO.  I thought he robbed Harper in the 10th....so did the postgame panel.

As I told Sinkspur...Asdrubel Cabrera should have walked on the penultimate pitch of the AB in the 11th...and then he follows it again on a slightly less obvious pitch?  YOU CAN"T GIVE THE UMP BOTH EAST-WEST and NORTH-SOUTH.

I knew this was going to happen when I saw the last few games of the regular season.  The NATS would consistently have DOUBLE DIGIT basehits and only one or two runs to show for it.

They suck with RISP.

But the umpire injected himself into that GAME.  It's a damned shame. 

A damned shame.

It was an 18 inning game.  The Nationals had their opportunities.  More than the Giants, I dare say.  Especially in the first nine innings.  I don't know for certain, but I'd bet Washington stranded more runners in both the first nine and extra innings.  The game did not come down to a few pitches.

The call at home plate in the top of the ninth could easily have gone against Washington, and I think it would have been upheld on replay.  It was simply too close to get a definitive result via video.  The point is, umpiring is part of the game.  This ump did not want the game to end on a close pitch so he defaulted on the side of the batter when there were two out in the bottom of the ninth.  Any pitcher would know that you have to throw a clean strike to end a one-run game.

The third strike call to Harper was a clear strike that broke into the middle of the plate, high in the strike zone.  It was clear on the replay.  Strike two was questionable, but not strike three. 

How about pulling Zimmerman?  That has also been pointed to as a cause of the Nationals' loss.

[DCPatriot]

What is the name of the ump? Fletcher? Angel Hernandes?

Victor Carapazza.   

[DCPatriot]

How about pulling Zimmerman?  That has also been pointed to as a cause of the Nationals' loss.

I would agree with that.  Zimmermann had just retired TWENTY batters in a row. 

And Matt Williams in the postgame interview said his plan "...was to pull Zim if he got into trouble..."

And as I said prior...he was squeezed....it wasn't like he had lost control of the strike zone, IMO.  He was NOT in trouble.

Of course, Posey...coming up next hits EVERYBODY hard and he'd already seen Zimmermann 3 times already...the last AB he lined out hard to Rendon at 3rd base.  So...I would have tried to get him to expand the strikezone and go after something off the plate.

He should have allowed him to try one more batter before yanking him, IMO.

[flowers]

Victor Carapazza.

Never heard of him, is he a newer ump? I mean newer by in the last 10 years?

[DCPatriot]

Never heard of him, is he a newer ump? I mean newer by in the last 10 years?

they call him "Victor the Ejector"....leads the entire league in throwing players and/or coaches out of games.



He's 35 years old.

[DCPatriot]

Matt Kemp: Strike zone 'terrible'

ST. LOUIS -- Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Matt Kemp, who got in a heated argument with plate umpire Dale Scott late in his team's 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, blasted the veteran umpire after the game.

The Dodgers, who were swinging hot bats coming into the game, were held to seven hits by veteran right-hander John Lackey and two Cardinals relievers.

"Terrible. Terrible strike zone," Kemp said. "I've never seen anything like it. That's disappointing because you've got guys out there battling. You know, this is two good teams going at it, and it's supposed to be the teams, not the umpire, and I just feel like the umpire took the bat out of our hands today. He had a very generous strike zone. It's hard to face good pitching when you've got a guy throwing a ball in the other batter's box, and it's called strikes."

Other Dodgers were more diplomatic in their comments but also expressed frustration with Scott's zone.

Adrian Gonzalez declined comment and said Lackey "put the ball where he needed to."

Manager Don Mattingly also called Scott's zone "generous" and said, "It puts you in a bind. You keep giving pitches, changing counts. Obviously, you can't go too far with it, but real generous."

Kemp, who got in a face-to-face argument with Scott after he struck out to lead off the ninth inning, could be facing a fine from the commissioner's office for his postgame comments.

He seemed OK with that and joked to reporters after he spoke. "You all got what you want from me," he said.

Kemp, who led the major leagues in slugging after the All-Star break, finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Game 3.

"You've got to be held accountable, man," Kemp said. "When we mess up and do bad things on the field, people talk about it. People get sent down when they play bad. I feel like when stuff like that happens, there should be some kind of punishment because it's unacceptable, man."

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/11656817/2014-mlb-playoffs-matt-kemp-los-angeles-dodgers-calls-umpire-terrible-strike-zone

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EXACTLY.......   

[DCPatriot]

A damned shame.....to lose the NLDS on a wild pitch.     

The wild-card Giants took Game 4 in the best-of-five Division Series and eliminated the Nationals by scoring on a bases-loaded walk, a groundout and a wild pitch. Hunter Pence turned in a defensive gem in right field.

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341007126

[evadR]

Ok, 1 and done.  Same old Nats....Move on.

[famousdayandyear]

Somebody say "wild pitch"?
'member me?  ---

Ryne Duren

[DCPatriot]

Ok, 1 and done.  Same old Nats....Move on.

Sadly, I'm with you brother.  Outside of Harper and Rendon, the rest of the team batted .114 for the series.

Too many 'can of corn' flyballs and too many K's.

Disgusting.

[DCPatriot]

Somebody say "wild pitch"?
'member me?  ---

Ryne Duren

Yeah...but at least Duren threw 100 mph and tightened many a sphincter muscle on the hitter.

This SOB threw a second one over the catcher's head....ON AN INTENTIONAL WALK...with a runner on 3rd base.