99 Comments
User's avatar
Jay Bryant's avatar

What's the rationale for batting JY third against the right hander?

Geordie Keitt's avatar

I guess it breaks up the handedness of the lineup so that when they replace the starter with a lefty, it’s not so obvious when to do that. But yer right it’s an indication of how few good right handed batters are on this team right now.

david behnke's avatar

Someone mentioned that it might be about time for Morales to join the show. His defensive numbers, 1 error in 209 innings, look as good as his offense so maybe he is the right handed bat we need

nebco66's avatar

Big "yup!" on that one.

nebco66's avatar

He can play 1b and 3b. That kind of flexibility would help the Nats. 3b play has become a bit sketchy recently.

Bill S formerly dclivejazz's avatar

Believe it or not, but over the past 5 games Young has hit slightly better, or less badly, really, than Lile, Tena or Vivas. I just scanned their results over the past 5 games on their pages in baseball-reference.com. So maybe that helps justify him hitting 3rd in today’s lineup. I do find it hard to believe myself.

CBinDC's avatar

Lets FACE it this team HATES the FANS THE CITY AND THE BALLPARK and they won't admit it outright and frankly we don't deserve this treatment. This is a FANBASE that is still here after being dismissed and maltreated for years you would think they would be grateful we even turn on the game on TV that is now not an easy watch.

GLH aka NatsFan4Ever's avatar

👎⚾️👎⚾️👎⚾️👎🦨

david behnke's avatar

Paybacks are hell so let’s hide their brooms and win one today. CB if you think this effort disrespects the fans just wait until there is a lock out next year and we have no games. I’m going to do my best to enjoy the games while we have them, win or lose.

Susan H aka pitchingfan's avatar

"I’m going to do my best to enjoy the games while we have them, win or lose." Amen!

(And, quite frankly, win or lose, they are a lot more enjoyable than the games of the past few seasons.)

GLH aka NatsFan4Ever's avatar

Amen to all of the above!!

BassMan's avatar

Having endured 33 years without a team, I'm sticking with the Nats. We are already seeing some real progress in the minors. Hopefully they within a couple years we will see the payoff.

Tim K's avatar

Need PJ to be sharp out of the gate!

GLH aka NatsFan4Ever's avatar

Definitely need to have much more quality ABs and clean defense. Time for the bats to wake up and score 6 - 8+ runs today. Some decent pitching wouldn't hurt anything either.

GO NATS!!⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️

Richard Maulsby's avatar

Something needs to be done about the cathing situation. They are both problamatic defensively and their combined offense is pathetic.

nebco66's avatar

Agreed. But Ford isn't the answer. When last I checked he wasn't above the Mendoza line.

LEE MCDOWELL's avatar

Gotta wonder if Toboni isn't shopping around for such help with an open roster spot. But of course it takes two to tango & he is not dealing from a position of strength.

Mark Zuckerman's avatar

Lineup change for the Brewers: Brice Turang (illness) has been scratched. Luis Rengifo will now lead off and play third base. David Hamilton moves to second base.

Mark Zuckerman's avatar

And we're underway on a sunny, breezy, 55-degree Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park.

Dwight Fettig's avatar

Mark, any sense why Jacob Young is hitting 3rd today when the Brewers started a RH? And the rest of the starting lineup was loaded with LH hitters?

Mark Zuckerman's avatar

So, because of the late scratch of Turang, Poulin wound up facing three right-handed batters in the top of the first. He retired them all on 15 pitches, so that worked fine. I would imagine he'll return to face the first two hitters (both left-handed) in the top of the second before handing the ball to Littell.

GLH aka NatsFan4Ever's avatar

They might Start Littell off on a cleaning 3rd inning, if PJ is doing well!

GLH aka NatsFan4Ever's avatar

JP is both a BEAST and a HOUDINI

LEE MCDOWELL's avatar

Wow, a gift there from Hamilton. Not a real smart (two strike) decision.

Mark Zuckerman's avatar

PJ Poulin wound up facing 8 batters (4 of them left-handed) over 2 scoreless innings, totaling 36 pitches. His season stats in his two roles:

Opener: 6.1 IP, 1.42 ERA, 0.947 WHIP

Reliever: 11 IP, 4.91 ERA, 1.545 WHIP

GLH aka NatsFan4Ever's avatar

That is an amazing difference!

Tim K's avatar

Astonishing delta

Mark Zuckerman's avatar

Meanwhile, the Nationals announced they've claimed RHP Zak Kent off waivers from the Twins and optioned him to Rochester. That fills up the 40-man roster after yesterday's outright of Cionel Perez.

LEE MCDOWELL's avatar

So there goes that idea about searching for catching help. Had a different minor league thought tho - is Lomavita (sp?) anywhere near ready either?

CBinDC's avatar

They are OLE'ing everything YET AGAIN they feel no pressure to play well while in DC

GLH aka NatsFan4Ever's avatar

Pretty nice inning for Littell!