Thanks for posting this in the middle of funeral, grief and loss. We will hold down the fort and hope to bring hope a 4th straight CURLY W this evening
I wonder if Butera will ever gamble on an offense-forward version of this lineup that puts Nasim Nunez on the bench and moves Luis Garcia Jr. back to 2nd for a game?
I'm lost (and I teach idioms as a volunteer ESL teacher and I consulted ChatGPT). What does "Let's not pickle the herring" mean in this context? I like it, for sure, but I have no idea what it means.
That's a good point on the SBs. I never completely understand the math, but overall both BWAR and FWAR have Nunez as slightly more valuable than Garcia Jr. (taking defense and offense into account).
BWAR: Nunez 0.5, Garcia Jr 0.3
FWAR: Nunez 0.1, Garcia Jr 0.0
Still I can see a situation where Butera might, due to. matchups, want to have Garcia and Chapparo both in the lineup, with one of the outfielders at DH. But maybe Butera was traumatized by his off-season watching of tapes of Garcia Jr in the field.
Although he’s doing ok this season, he hasn’t always done well against lefties. And they are facing a lefty tonight. And having both him and CJ in the middle infield? I think they want to avoid “needing” him to have to score runs to make up for the weakness on defense. 😂 But I understand the sentiment. It does otherwise make sense.
The Nats defense is the team's Achilles Heal. We won't advance until the errors come down. The team has plenty of bats, Nunez needs to stay where he is. Eddie Brinkman couldn't hit either, but Ted Williams put him out there every day because he knew Brinkman would catch anything remotely close to him.
Mark, so sorry for your loss and sending you my condolences. Hope that a Nats win is in the cards for tonight and brings some happiness during a tough time.
Mead batting 2nd again. It's becoming clear that the House "demotion" wasn't just about getting House more ABs from both sides in the minors. It was about giving Mead a chance to play full time in the majors. So far so good.
At this point, even with Morales' defensive limitations (can't be that much worse than Chappy), it might be time to just cut bait on Chaparro and go go with Yo Yo.
I'm gonna do a bit of bitchin' here...watching News4, and J.P. Finlay (a Commanders guy) is talking Nationals. He shows a graph showing how they've been hovering around .500 all season.
He then goes on to say that if the pitching can get better, then good things could happen. Hey dude, pitching HAS been better, that's part of the reason WHY they are where they are.
Could the pitching be better? Yes. But to look at the numbers without context, and not understanding that the pitching staff is so much better in May than it was in April, is simply ignorant.
Totally with you. He seems like a nice enough guy, but he's just another part of what I call the Washington pro football propaganda machine. Baseball is a sideline.
Most of us have been in the area long enough and we know that the 4th string guard's knee in summer camp will get more play than what the local nine are doing. Ugh.
Every now and then he and Brian Mitchell talk about something other than the Commanders. And when it's the Nats or Caps (don't follow NBA so can't speak to the Wiz), it's immediately painfully obvious they have no knowledge and no actual interest in baseball or hockey. The afternoon guys, Grant and Danny, at least spend a little time on anything not Commanders and actually know a good bit what they are talking about.
G & D know A LOT more about baseball than BMitch & Finlay and the Sports Junkies. But that’s NOT saying much. If you listen to Grant he really doesn’t know that much. Danny should speak up more because he played 1B at GW and it’ll be nice to get his perspective. Lurch is the guy to listen to on the Junkies because he knows/ friends with Kenny Wood from his basketball days at Richmond.
I haven't listened to the Junkies (or WJFK) in years, but when I did, I agree with you, their baseball knowledge (and interest) is minimal. Grant Paulsen is also someone who thinks he knows a lot more about baseball than he actually does. I actively avoided listening to him because of that attitude.
Yep. I agree. Just the sound of Grant’s voice was abrasive enough… like fingernails on a chalkboard. I have a similar opinion on some of the same written journalistic work. I gave up on the last place I was reading and commenting, which was free, and elected to finally pay for a subscription to come here instead, to read and partake of the professional work of Mark. And man, it’s been a breath of fresh air. I grew tired of the same level of immaturity and know it all mentality that you are hinting at here, although I do have a level of genuine love in my heart for the young man running that site. Not casting stones…some folks love it, but this place is more to my liking, and I’ve followed Mark (like many here, I am sure) from Day 1, long before he went to MASN.
Yeah there are some good people at that “last place”, but there were more than a few that made it an easy move here, even with paying a subscription, which is worth every penny.
Well you know they don't want to cover it, but their producer says, one of those teams in another sport is starting to make a little noise, so come up with something to fill the void in this lull between camps.
For those many of us looking for national media to start noticing the Nats, check out today's "Just Baseball" podcast/around the 27 minute mark (link below). About a 6 minute discussion, crediting the new focus on technology/teaching/analytics for “unlocking" numerous players. These fellows know their stuff, and stats they typically reel off enough to make one's head spin (even if that "head" is named Galdi). I met several of the hosts/producers in Jupiter at the Nats/Cardinals PROSPECTS Game in March, so to say they live and really know baseball would be an understatement. Just hope the attention (by them and my noting it) doesn't immediately throw the whole thing into reverse....
They also got some nice commentary on the Sirius/XM MLB morning show. Spent some time talking about the offense, improving pitching, and even mentioned Nunez as the spark plug that he is.
Cleveland’s pitcher, Joey Cantillo, has looked great against bottom half to bottom third offenses (Angels, Tigers, Royals), but against teams like the Athletics, Reds and Orioles, who have middle to top half or top ten MLB offenses, he’s been hit pretty hard, giving up 4 ER twice (Athletics and Reds) in 4-5 IP, and 3 runs in 4.2 IP against the O’s. I don’t think the Nats’ lineup will fare poorly this game. Light ‘em up, boys!
This happened when Wood was in Right earlier this season. I know he is a quiet guy but he has to be able to yell off the infielder on a fly. Lucky no one was injured.
Mark, I’m sorry for your loss. I hope coming back to the Nats tomorrow will give you some measure of solace. Rooting for you and the Nats!!!
Thanks for posting this in the middle of funeral, grief and loss. We will hold down the fort and hope to bring hope a 4th straight CURLY W this evening
I wonder if Butera will ever gamble on an offense-forward version of this lineup that puts Nasim Nunez on the bench and moves Luis Garcia Jr. back to 2nd for a game?
Ooo Ooo, no. Let’s not pickle the herring.
⚾️⚾️⚾️🙋🏼♀️
I'm lost (and I teach idioms as a volunteer ESL teacher and I consulted ChatGPT). What does "Let's not pickle the herring" mean in this context? I like it, for sure, but I have no idea what it means.
It means "don't play Garcia at 2B."
I would suggest it means the "herring" is fine as it is. Don't mess with it. Or the current lineup.
As for "offense-forward", Nunez is leading MLB in SBs. One can't steal a base from the dugout.
That's a good point on the SBs. I never completely understand the math, but overall both BWAR and FWAR have Nunez as slightly more valuable than Garcia Jr. (taking defense and offense into account).
BWAR: Nunez 0.5, Garcia Jr 0.3
FWAR: Nunez 0.1, Garcia Jr 0.0
Still I can see a situation where Butera might, due to. matchups, want to have Garcia and Chapparo both in the lineup, with one of the outfielders at DH. But maybe Butera was traumatized by his off-season watching of tapes of Garcia Jr in the field.
I think we're all traumatized by the mere thought of Garcia at 2B ever, not just the past video! 🤣
Yup!!
If Garcia wore the home curly W cap he would be a red herring.
I love Luis Garcia Jr., just not at 2nd base
Although he’s doing ok this season, he hasn’t always done well against lefties. And they are facing a lefty tonight. And having both him and CJ in the middle infield? I think they want to avoid “needing” him to have to score runs to make up for the weakness on defense. 😂 But I understand the sentiment. It does otherwise make sense.
The Nats defense is the team's Achilles Heal. We won't advance until the errors come down. The team has plenty of bats, Nunez needs to stay where he is. Eddie Brinkman couldn't hit either, but Ted Williams put him out there every day because he knew Brinkman would catch anything remotely close to him.
True fact, Eddie Brinkmanship and Pete Rose both went Western Hills HS in Cincinnati and Eddie out hit Rose.
Eddie did hit 265 in 1969, which I believe was his best year. Apparently Ted told him “I don't want you hitting any fly balls. Go for line drives”.
I agree. But I was the one who suggested it? 😂
Mark, so sorry for your loss and sending you my condolences. Hope that a Nats win is in the cards for tonight and brings some happiness during a tough time.
In non-Nats news, recently DFAed (thanks to the Nats?) veteran Craig Kimbrel has been signed by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Rats!! I thought he was headed here! lol
Mead batting 2nd again. It's becoming clear that the House "demotion" wasn't just about getting House more ABs from both sides in the minors. It was about giving Mead a chance to play full time in the majors. So far so good.
I am liking Mead more and more as we see him playing more than one position.
I suspect a part of the change was to also give Chaparro a last chance to keep a 40-man spot with Morales smashing in AAA.
At this point, even with Morales' defensive limitations (can't be that much worse than Chappy), it might be time to just cut bait on Chaparro and go go with Yo Yo.
Could the Nats option Chaparro to AA? I don’t know whether they meet their “enormous mashing first baseman” quota
I'm gonna do a bit of bitchin' here...watching News4, and J.P. Finlay (a Commanders guy) is talking Nationals. He shows a graph showing how they've been hovering around .500 all season.
He then goes on to say that if the pitching can get better, then good things could happen. Hey dude, pitching HAS been better, that's part of the reason WHY they are where they are.
Could the pitching be better? Yes. But to look at the numbers without context, and not understanding that the pitching staff is so much better in May than it was in April, is simply ignorant.
OK, rant over. 😁
He doesn't know what he is talking about when it comes to the Nats, and sometimes even when he is talking about the Commanders.
Totally with you. He seems like a nice enough guy, but he's just another part of what I call the Washington pro football propaganda machine. Baseball is a sideline.
Most of us have been in the area long enough and we know that the 4th string guard's knee in summer camp will get more play than what the local nine are doing. Ugh.
Football is a cancer that eats young men’s frontal lobes
Hah:)) Love it>......
Every now and then he and Brian Mitchell talk about something other than the Commanders. And when it's the Nats or Caps (don't follow NBA so can't speak to the Wiz), it's immediately painfully obvious they have no knowledge and no actual interest in baseball or hockey. The afternoon guys, Grant and Danny, at least spend a little time on anything not Commanders and actually know a good bit what they are talking about.
G & D know A LOT more about baseball than BMitch & Finlay and the Sports Junkies. But that’s NOT saying much. If you listen to Grant he really doesn’t know that much. Danny should speak up more because he played 1B at GW and it’ll be nice to get his perspective. Lurch is the guy to listen to on the Junkies because he knows/ friends with Kenny Wood from his basketball days at Richmond.
I haven't listened to the Junkies (or WJFK) in years, but when I did, I agree with you, their baseball knowledge (and interest) is minimal. Grant Paulsen is also someone who thinks he knows a lot more about baseball than he actually does. I actively avoided listening to him because of that attitude.
Yep. I agree. Just the sound of Grant’s voice was abrasive enough… like fingernails on a chalkboard. I have a similar opinion on some of the same written journalistic work. I gave up on the last place I was reading and commenting, which was free, and elected to finally pay for a subscription to come here instead, to read and partake of the professional work of Mark. And man, it’s been a breath of fresh air. I grew tired of the same level of immaturity and know it all mentality that you are hinting at here, although I do have a level of genuine love in my heart for the young man running that site. Not casting stones…some folks love it, but this place is more to my liking, and I’ve followed Mark (like many here, I am sure) from Day 1, long before he went to MASN.
Yeah there are some good people at that “last place”, but there were more than a few that made it an easy move here, even with paying a subscription, which is worth every penny.
Well you know they don't want to cover it, but their producer says, one of those teams in another sport is starting to make a little noise, so come up with something to fill the void in this lull between camps.
For those many of us looking for national media to start noticing the Nats, check out today's "Just Baseball" podcast/around the 27 minute mark (link below). About a 6 minute discussion, crediting the new focus on technology/teaching/analytics for “unlocking" numerous players. These fellows know their stuff, and stats they typically reel off enough to make one's head spin (even if that "head" is named Galdi). I met several of the hosts/producers in Jupiter at the Nats/Cardinals PROSPECTS Game in March, so to say they live and really know baseball would be an understatement. Just hope the attention (by them and my noting it) doesn't immediately throw the whole thing into reverse....
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1106-misiorowskis-historic-start-astros-no-hitter-minor/id1560027068?i=1000769681710
They also got some nice commentary on the Sirius/XM MLB morning show. Spent some time talking about the offense, improving pitching, and even mentioned Nunez as the spark plug that he is.
The Just Baseball podcast is also available on Amazon Music for us Android device peeps. Will check them out, thank you.
Cleveland’s pitcher, Joey Cantillo, has looked great against bottom half to bottom third offenses (Angels, Tigers, Royals), but against teams like the Athletics, Reds and Orioles, who have middle to top half or top ten MLB offenses, he’s been hit pretty hard, giving up 4 ER twice (Athletics and Reds) in 4-5 IP, and 3 runs in 4.2 IP against the O’s. I don’t think the Nats’ lineup will fare poorly this game. Light ‘em up, boys!
The Orioles offense has been terrible!!
They are 15th in OPS. My point was, Cantillo’s ERA is not predictive.
Yeah, I could see that tonight.
Mike Estabrook is not a good umpire.
I think he forgot his glasses.
Monocle 🧐
LOL
BLINKING CYCLOPS ALERT!! Thank goodness for ROBO-UMPS! 2 overturned calls in the same AB!!
Made him throw 29 pitches that inning. OK Cade, your turn.
Cavali not fazed by Blue’s revenge penalty
It was Wood's ball
This happened when Wood was in Right earlier this season. I know he is a quiet guy but he has to be able to yell off the infielder on a fly. Lucky no one was injured.
Yeah, He needs to get LOUD!!
James should have called him off and maybe he did
Every batted ball is an adventure.