No Mead, but Vivas at third?🤦🏻♂️The only way that would make sense is if “if at first you don’t suceed, try, try again” were a known baseball adage of renown and repute. It is not…
Interesting lineup. I won't go into details, as I'm sure others here will have plenty to say. I assume that Butera and company have their reasons, none of which are apparent to me at the moment.
Exactly, the Padres strength is their BP. With Mead on the bench he can be inserted into the game to play 1st, 2nd, or 3rd base so his role as a PHer who can field is very useful. Vivas then can be replaced or moved to second base as needed. If a key spot opens up in the game I'm sure we will see Mead as he's on a hot streak right now.
Have you been listening in to Butera's staff meetings? Yes, I suspect you're right about all of this, especially in light of the Padres BP, an impressive group.
Love the Butera - King nugget. Led me to looking up BC’s mid-2010s rosters and found Scherzer-Trea trade return flop Donovan Casey was also on that team, followed by Nats legend Jake Alu a year after Butera graduated
I can’t really understand the Vivas/Tena thing as both are left handed utility players. Nats have plenty of right handed players in Rochester than can play multiple positions. Even Trey Lipscomb has 10 HR in Rochester. Is it just that left handed batters are more important than right these days. Lots of people on this board know more about baseball than me. Please explain.
I’ll try to explain why I think José Tena is on the team.
Baseball has always had role players, and a good PHer can be very valuable. Tena’s overall numbers don’t look great, but right now he has one thing he does really well: he’s been one of the best PHers in baseball this season, going 6-for-13, .462, with at least one PH HR.
That’s a tough role. You’re coming off the bench cold, often facing a pitcher you haven’t seen all game, or a reliever brought in specifically for that matchup. It also becomes a little chess match between managers, because a good PHer can force the other team to adjust or use its bullpen differently.
So I don’t think Tena is here just because he bats left handed. He has a defined bench role, and as long as he keeps doing that well, he has a reason to be on the roster.
I speculate that Tena and Vivas were also envisioned as a possible platoon partners for Mead at third before Mead kind of took over the position. As long as they are both on the team, Butera is going to work them into the lineup occasionally. As you say, Tena has performed a valuable PH role. They also seem to have faith in Vivas’ potential and traded for him as the season was about to get underway. But they are both out of options so until someone who is expected to be a better position player is called up or acquired, the Nats will hang onto them. The Nats hope things will sort themselves out eventually.
Garcia is a free swinger that's why last night's AB was so strange. He doesn't like to walk. He hits like he's from the Dominican Republic where they say you can't walk off an island but he's born in NYC. His father is Dominican so maybe its in his DNA.
No Mead, but Vivas at third?🤦🏻♂️The only way that would make sense is if “if at first you don’t suceed, try, try again” were a known baseball adage of renown and repute. It is not…
100%...........
or maybe just stick with the plan. the one that has scored the most runs in baseball.
Omg Vivas has nudie pics on someone, 0 for 24 with RISP! How many players get that many chances? Serious question.
LOL. Calm down man.
Interesting lineup. I won't go into details, as I'm sure others here will have plenty to say. I assume that Butera and company have their reasons, none of which are apparent to me at the moment.
It is a head-scratcher, but I will defer to him - he's been fairly successful doing what he's doing with the lineups.
I suspect we'll see Meade later in the game. Since Butera played with King in college, we can assume he knows the pitcher's strengths and weaknesses.
Exactly, the Padres strength is their BP. With Mead on the bench he can be inserted into the game to play 1st, 2nd, or 3rd base so his role as a PHer who can field is very useful. Vivas then can be replaced or moved to second base as needed. If a key spot opens up in the game I'm sure we will see Mead as he's on a hot streak right now.
Have you been listening in to Butera's staff meetings? Yes, I suspect you're right about all of this, especially in light of the Padres BP, an impressive group.
Right. Read that nugget and promptly forgot it. Thanks!
Yes, he's been good with the lineups, so I won't criticize. Just wonder. :-)
Nats do well, as most teams do, when the bottom of the lineup produces. Could be a big ask today.
Love the Butera - King nugget. Led me to looking up BC’s mid-2010s rosters and found Scherzer-Trea trade return flop Donovan Casey was also on that team, followed by Nats legend Jake Alu a year after Butera graduated
I can’t really understand the Vivas/Tena thing as both are left handed utility players. Nats have plenty of right handed players in Rochester than can play multiple positions. Even Trey Lipscomb has 10 HR in Rochester. Is it just that left handed batters are more important than right these days. Lots of people on this board know more about baseball than me. Please explain.
I’ll try to explain why I think José Tena is on the team.
Baseball has always had role players, and a good PHer can be very valuable. Tena’s overall numbers don’t look great, but right now he has one thing he does really well: he’s been one of the best PHers in baseball this season, going 6-for-13, .462, with at least one PH HR.
That’s a tough role. You’re coming off the bench cold, often facing a pitcher you haven’t seen all game, or a reliever brought in specifically for that matchup. It also becomes a little chess match between managers, because a good PHer can force the other team to adjust or use its bullpen differently.
So I don’t think Tena is here just because he bats left handed. He has a defined bench role, and as long as he keeps doing that well, he has a reason to be on the roster.
I speculate that Tena and Vivas were also envisioned as a possible platoon partners for Mead at third before Mead kind of took over the position. As long as they are both on the team, Butera is going to work them into the lineup occasionally. As you say, Tena has performed a valuable PH role. They also seem to have faith in Vivas’ potential and traded for him as the season was about to get underway. But they are both out of options so until someone who is expected to be a better position player is called up or acquired, the Nats will hang onto them. The Nats hope things will sort themselves out eventually.
Yup, you got it:)) Good PHers are pretty rare.
I would just prefer a CURLY W this afternoon, regardless of the final score, whose playing, or why.
GO NATS!!
Me, too!
Go, Nats!!
ANDREW PICKNEY IS A BEAST!
https://www-mlb-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.mlb.com/amp/news/nationals-prospect-andrew-pinckney-119-mph-home-run.html?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17801608510571&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fnews%2Fnationals-prospect-andrew-pinckney-119-mph-home-run
We are underway on a breezy-but-beautiful, 71-degree Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park.
4-6-3 nice DP on a slow ball
Luis Garcia swung at the 1st pitch resultingin the DP. Whadda know a out that? He returned the favor to the Padres.
Garcia is a free swinger that's why last night's AB was so strange. He doesn't like to walk. He hits like he's from the Dominican Republic where they say you can't walk off an island but he's born in NYC. His father is Dominican so maybe its in his DNA.
That's a lot of pitches already.
And that's with a DP in the inning.
Padres sure foul off a lot of good pitches.
10 pitch AB by Machado.
25 pitches in that inning by Griffin. The BP better be ready in this game.
And there goes the no hitter!
Ugh
That's what I was gonna type too...