Yes. And I much prefer Charlie and Dave. but I find that their feed lags the nationals.tv video stream by an annoying few seconds. Any work around for that?
They are off by less than previous years and it is so much better than the tv crew. This week they brought up baseball histories I was unfamiliar with and was the type stories we were used to from Bob
Kolko and Frandsen are the Bert and Ernie of broadcasting. They are horrible. Unprofessional. We need a fresh set in the tv booth . . . just like we got in the front office and the coaches room!
Kolko is just… boring. He doesn’t have an interesting enough personality or enough personal charisma to pull off the PBP / anchor spot. It’s cringey. I always listen to the Dave & Charlie feed via SiriusXM!
I'm curious how a reliever prepares to start a game as an opener. Does he wait around in the bullpen and not really warm up and get ready until right before the game starts? I suspect there's a real risk of throwing TOO much pre-game in this situation. Once Mark is back in the ballpark, I'd love if you explored this topic!
I'm a bit concerned about Lovelady opening if it gets to Miami's 3 and 4 hitters with men on base - Mark says lefties are hitting .320 off of him, but with the Nats, it's .357 for LHB, with a .899 OPS.
Only 14 ABs, so a small sample size, but something to be mindful of today.
EDIT: after looking further, Hicks has a .629 OPS vs LHP; Stowers OPS vs LHP is .284, so we shall see.
We put Wood first so he gets more at-bats over the season. But CJ is arguably our best hitter, and if not, he's second to Wood. So I've been curious why he's batting 4, 5 & 6 rather than 2. Wouldn't we also want CJ to get more at-bats over the season?
“So, then, shortstop CJ Abrams — who has nine homers and has driven in 33 runs in less than a quarter of a season — began the year hitting down in the order, given he, Wood, outfielder Daylen Lile and designated hitter José Tena all hit from the left side. Even though Abrams has hit as low as sixth, “I told him it’s not because we think you’re our sixth-best hitter,” Butera said.”
There was a good article in The Athletic by Barry Svrluga, formerly of The Washington Post, about the Nationals’ batting order.
Other than Wood batting first, almost everyone has been moved around. The team sends the lineup information to the players daily, so they know where they’re hitting, and it sounds like the players have bought into it.
Abrams has hit 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th, though mostly 4th and 5th. Some of the lineups look strange to me too, but it’s hard to argue with the run production they’re getting from the talent they have.
My guess is the constant movement keeps everyone involved and thinking. It also seems to spread the scoring and RBI chances around the lineup. This approach might work better with a young team without established stars. I’m not sure higher paid stars, whose contracts depend heavily on individual stats, would like it as much.
Anybody recall if Nats ever used an opener before this season? It wudda have to have been since 2018. Don't believe anybody used one before then (and I'm not talkin' about Curly Ogden in gm. 7 in 1924)
Janson Junk? Wonder if he has every considered changing his name.
Jayson Junk, Justice Junk, Jerry Junk, or maybe just call him JJ.
Speaking of names, why do sportscasters have to find a shortened version of every players name. I like Jacob Young, it’s a beautiful name. Not so JY. Where’s Mel Allan when you need him?
I really!! Miss Bob and F.P.
I liked Bob a lot. FP could sometimes drive me crazy, but he did offer some good insights at times.
The only consolation is Nationals TV lets you choose the audio feed, so you can choose Charlie & Dave instead of the "bro team" of Dan & Kevin.
(not if you watch via cable channel, but if you have a smart TV and the MLB app)
Yes. And I much prefer Charlie and Dave. but I find that their feed lags the nationals.tv video stream by an annoying few seconds. Any work around for that?
They are off by less than previous years and it is so much better than the tv crew. This week they brought up baseball histories I was unfamiliar with and was the type stories we were used to from Bob
Last night by about the 4th inning it was perfectly synched up.
Perfectly synced today…
Yep; glorious.
Sure. I just google 106.7.com and pause the TV at the beginning of the game until the radio catches up. Easy.
Actually, I google 106.7 The Fan listen live.
If the sync is bad, sometimes completely closing the app and restarting can help.
Thanks for this tip!!
Thank you . Didn’t know I could do that . I’ve been synching up my radio feed w TV but this way is of course much easier
Kolko and Frandsen are the Bert and Ernie of broadcasting. They are horrible. Unprofessional. We need a fresh set in the tv booth . . . just like we got in the front office and the coaches room!
I listen to Charlie and Dave, and use my imagination just like when I was a kid.
Kolko is just… boring. He doesn’t have an interesting enough personality or enough personal charisma to pull off the PBP / anchor spot. It’s cringey. I always listen to the Dave & Charlie feed via SiriusXM!
Kolko is just… boring. He doesn’t have an interesting enough personality or enough personal charisma to
In seven seasons (132 games), Lovelady has never started an MLB game.
Butera is managing the bleep out of this team; I love how he is extracting every possible bit of value out of the full team.
I'm curious how a reliever prepares to start a game as an opener. Does he wait around in the bullpen and not really warm up and get ready until right before the game starts? I suspect there's a real risk of throwing TOO much pre-game in this situation. Once Mark is back in the ballpark, I'd love if you explored this topic!
I am really hoping for a big batch of hits and runs today! Been enough time to recover from the blowout the other day! GO NATS!!
I'm a bit concerned about Lovelady opening if it gets to Miami's 3 and 4 hitters with men on base - Mark says lefties are hitting .320 off of him, but with the Nats, it's .357 for LHB, with a .899 OPS.
Only 14 ABs, so a small sample size, but something to be mindful of today.
EDIT: after looking further, Hicks has a .629 OPS vs LHP; Stowers OPS vs LHP is .284, so we shall see.
Butera took care of it
We put Wood first so he gets more at-bats over the season. But CJ is arguably our best hitter, and if not, he's second to Wood. So I've been curious why he's batting 4, 5 & 6 rather than 2. Wouldn't we also want CJ to get more at-bats over the season?
Obviously, he was put lower in the order sohe would have more opportunities to drive in runs. And so far so good. He leads the league.
“So, then, shortstop CJ Abrams — who has nine homers and has driven in 33 runs in less than a quarter of a season — began the year hitting down in the order, given he, Wood, outfielder Daylen Lile and designated hitter José Tena all hit from the left side. Even though Abrams has hit as low as sixth, “I told him it’s not because we think you’re our sixth-best hitter,” Butera said.”
From this great article that Tegwar recommended in another comment: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7261681/2026/05/08/blake-butera-james-wood-nationals-lineup/?unlocked_article_code=1.hFA.YHHO.ayDBudSXY7VR
There was a good article in The Athletic by Barry Svrluga, formerly of The Washington Post, about the Nationals’ batting order.
Other than Wood batting first, almost everyone has been moved around. The team sends the lineup information to the players daily, so they know where they’re hitting, and it sounds like the players have bought into it.
Abrams has hit 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th, though mostly 4th and 5th. Some of the lineups look strange to me too, but it’s hard to argue with the run production they’re getting from the talent they have.
My guess is the constant movement keeps everyone involved and thinking. It also seems to spread the scoring and RBI chances around the lineup. This approach might work better with a young team without established stars. I’m not sure higher paid stars, whose contracts depend heavily on individual stats, would like it as much.
I’ll look for that article, thanks!
Hear is a great article that discusses what goes into building the lineup. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7261681/2026/05/08/blake-butera-james-wood-nationals-lineup/?unlocked_article_code=1.hFA.YHHO.ayDBudSXY7VR
Two DH, that’s gonna be tough to pull off.
Quite the “unfortunate name” (as Mark put it for Junk) clash of BOTH starters…
Did everyone see the first inning pitches by Milwaukee's Miz vs the Yankees:
10 Pitches at: 102, 103, 103, 103, 103, 103, 103, 103, 103 and 104 mph.
He was lights out vs the Nats but yesterday he was ridiculous.
Les Miz!
He almost had an immaculate inning. The 9th pitch was close but called a ball. The 10th Judge actually managed to have a fly out.
Anybody recall if Nats ever used an opener before this season? It wudda have to have been since 2018. Don't believe anybody used one before then (and I'm not talkin' about Curly Ogden in gm. 7 in 1924)
From the Google Machine:
"July 27, 2019: Lefty reliever Matt Grace was used as the team's first official opener, pitching two scoreless innings against the Dodgers."
Edit: Just checked the box score. Grace went 2 innings, gave up no hits/runs and struck out 3. Joe Ross got lit up big in relief and Dodgers won 9-3.
Janson Junk? Wonder if he has every considered changing his name.
Jayson Junk, Justice Junk, Jerry Junk, or maybe just call him JJ.
Speaking of names, why do sportscasters have to find a shortened version of every players name. I like Jacob Young, it’s a beautiful name. Not so JY. Where’s Mel Allan when you need him?
RIP Bobby Cox at 84.
14 consecutive division titles - and one World Series championship. Shows what an accomplishment it is to actually win a WS.
And the WS the Nats did win was an a WC as I remember, after those several Division Titles sprinkled in back then.
Ted Turner must have needed a manager for his new team
lol
For Mark: And we are under way in Miami. JAMES WOOD WITH A LEADOFF DINGER!!
So we are negative 9 on run differential and one game below 500. I say we slay both those negatives today
How's that for starters? LOL
Sounds like a good plan to me!
That was a serious bomb!
James made 'em pay for last night.