While we wait for Nats game, of some note a former Nat/a hero of 2019 series is starting today for the Blue Jays vs. Cleveland — and I don’t mean Max (who got lit up by them Friday in a loss/gave up 7 earned in 2.1 innings and is suffering from forearm “tendinitis). No, it is Patrick Corbin — who has a 3.68 ERA in 3 starts so far this season…
A few weeks back I suggested this team might win 75 games. I listed monthly win totals that got us to 75 by season's end -- with 2 expected in March (2-3) and 10 in April (10-17). Thus I'd suggested a 12-20 record as the calendar rolled to May.
With yesterday's win, the Nats have already reached 12 wins for the season (12-16). With 4 games left in April, they could head in to May ahead of the pace I proposed. One extra win per month over my projections would put them dangerously close to a .500 record for 2026.
I’d agree, but I’m not sure what the trade deadline will look like. There’s a real chance that anyone not under contract for next year gets moved. If he keeps pitching well, Foster Griffin could draw a lot of interest. And who knows what they decide to do with C.J.
No doubt. Bad things may happen. CJ may get traded, Cavalli's arm troubles could re-surface. James Wood or Darren Lile could tear an ACL. Conversely, a DJ Herz or Josiah Gray could get healthy and emerge as a positive force later in the summer. Trevor Williams or Mitchell Parker or Luis Perales could solidify the BP. Maybe Harry Ford arrives to stabilize the catcher position. Or Dylan Crews re-discovers an ability to hit a baseball.
It's all speculative, of course. But my post was about the current pace and the possibility, via a single extra Curly W each month, of a surprising but pleasant turnaround.
I agree, Max, that’s why I opened with “I’d agree.” A lot can happen between now and the deadline. Honestly, I’d be perfectly happy if they just played .500 ball and didn’t trade anyone. Let the young guys experience competitive baseball for a full season; that alone would be a big step forward.
And a balk! A bit more stressful a first inning than I was expecting. But maybe he was anticipating Murakami's at-bat. Round one to Griffin. We'll see what happens the next time Murakami comes up.
I can’t figure House out. Sometimes he looks awful at the plate, then he comes back the next at bat and ropes a hit. He’s the hardest guy on the team to read.
It's all about adjustments. The smart ones may get fooled in one AB but they adapt for the next one and look like an entirely different hitter. Hitting at the MLB level is a guessing game. Guys go to the plate with a plan; if the opposing pitcher has a different plan then confusion -- and ugly hacks -- can ensue. But if the batter has a good idea about how the other guys are working him, he can eliminate a few pitch types and focus on a particular pitch in a particular spot.
It ain't easy. Which is why it's so much fun to watch the really, really good ones.
It seems to also be why Dylan Crews is in Rochester.
Brady really struggling with the fastball, he’s essentially flipped his splits against it from last year.
2025, pitch type BA and whiff respectively:
- Fastball: .266, 24.7%
- Breaking: .222, 34.3%
- Offspeed: .138, 47.0%
2026 so far:
- Fastball: .189, 35.2%
- Breaking: .297, 31.7%
- Offspeed: .333, 23.8%
I think Franny gave pretty solid analysis there. He’s whiffing under. Darnell Coles last year was a huge “hack down at the ball” guy. This regime is preaching the opposite. Brady is crushing the slower, hung pitches swinging upwards to elevate them, with his natural power enabling home runs. He’s not been able to catch up and do the same with the fastballs.
The Granillo was has allowed nine hits, six walks and 10 earned runs in five innings at Rochester?
Save the fare and just put Joey Weimer out there.
Make that Wiemer.
While we wait for Nats game, of some note a former Nat/a hero of 2019 series is starting today for the Blue Jays vs. Cleveland — and I don’t mean Max (who got lit up by them Friday in a loss/gave up 7 earned in 2.1 innings and is suffering from forearm “tendinitis). No, it is Patrick Corbin — who has a 3.68 ERA in 3 starts so far this season…
Man, that route between Rochester and DC is a well worn path.
The Rochester Redball Express?
Their Red Birds so they can fly...😉
A few weeks back I suggested this team might win 75 games. I listed monthly win totals that got us to 75 by season's end -- with 2 expected in March (2-3) and 10 in April (10-17). Thus I'd suggested a 12-20 record as the calendar rolled to May.
With yesterday's win, the Nats have already reached 12 wins for the season (12-16). With 4 games left in April, they could head in to May ahead of the pace I proposed. One extra win per month over my projections would put them dangerously close to a .500 record for 2026.
THAT would be impressive.
I had them at 67-69 wins. I'd be thrilled with anything 70+.
I’d agree, but I’m not sure what the trade deadline will look like. There’s a real chance that anyone not under contract for next year gets moved. If he keeps pitching well, Foster Griffin could draw a lot of interest. And who knows what they decide to do with C.J.
No doubt. Bad things may happen. CJ may get traded, Cavalli's arm troubles could re-surface. James Wood or Darren Lile could tear an ACL. Conversely, a DJ Herz or Josiah Gray could get healthy and emerge as a positive force later in the summer. Trevor Williams or Mitchell Parker or Luis Perales could solidify the BP. Maybe Harry Ford arrives to stabilize the catcher position. Or Dylan Crews re-discovers an ability to hit a baseball.
It's all speculative, of course. But my post was about the current pace and the possibility, via a single extra Curly W each month, of a surprising but pleasant turnaround.
I agree, Max, that’s why I opened with “I’d agree.” A lot can happen between now and the deadline. Honestly, I’d be perfectly happy if they just played .500 ball and didn’t trade anyone. Let the young guys experience competitive baseball for a full season; that alone would be a big step forward.
Gotcha... I saw "I'd agree, but", which usually means "I don't agree"!! 😉
I try and always keep it positive. Sometimes my writing could be clearer.
I bet Chad Cordero is available.
It's sunny and 55 degrees here at Rate Field as the series finale gets underway.
No reason to throw that ball to third.
Actually a nice play by House to pull that throw in.
Too. Many. Pitches.
And a balk! A bit more stressful a first inning than I was expecting. But maybe he was anticipating Murakami's at-bat. Round one to Griffin. We'll see what happens the next time Murakami comes up.
Millas should have stuck that in his pocket.
Nice. Griffin works around a man on 2nd and strikes out three.
Munetaka Murakami's career numbers vs. Foster Griffin in Japan: 4-for-28, 1 HR, 2 BB, 16 SO
He's now 0-for-1 with a strikeout vs. Griffin in MLB.
Foster out of early jam in excellent fashion
I can’t figure House out. Sometimes he looks awful at the plate, then he comes back the next at bat and ropes a hit. He’s the hardest guy on the team to read.
It's all about adjustments. The smart ones may get fooled in one AB but they adapt for the next one and look like an entirely different hitter. Hitting at the MLB level is a guessing game. Guys go to the plate with a plan; if the opposing pitcher has a different plan then confusion -- and ugly hacks -- can ensue. But if the batter has a good idea about how the other guys are working him, he can eliminate a few pitch types and focus on a particular pitch in a particular spot.
It ain't easy. Which is why it's so much fun to watch the really, really good ones.
It seems to also be why Dylan Crews is in Rochester.
Nice at-bat, JY!
Brady really struggling with the fastball, he’s essentially flipped his splits against it from last year.
2025, pitch type BA and whiff respectively:
- Fastball: .266, 24.7%
- Breaking: .222, 34.3%
- Offspeed: .138, 47.0%
2026 so far:
- Fastball: .189, 35.2%
- Breaking: .297, 31.7%
- Offspeed: .333, 23.8%
I think Franny gave pretty solid analysis there. He’s whiffing under. Darnell Coles last year was a huge “hack down at the ball” guy. This regime is preaching the opposite. Brady is crushing the slower, hung pitches swinging upwards to elevate them, with his natural power enabling home runs. He’s not been able to catch up and do the same with the fastballs.
It’s frustrating watching pitchers walk batters hitting .185 on 4 pitches - just attack them and throw strikes.
True. The good news, though, is that Griffin threw only 12 pitches that inning.