Foster Griffin is on the mound, and pretty much all of the Nationals' remaining position players are on hand for the second-to-last game of the Grapefruit League schedule
No, just my interpretation of Butera saying we shouldn't just assume the five guys remaining in camp are guaranteed to be the five guys on Opening Day.
That, along with fielding mistakes, are things that can’t keep happening, things that a player can control. I like CJ’s talent, but he really needs to focus more.
Correct I would not describe those ABs that way (sitting in the stands right now). Worked them both full, fouled of a few, nothing screaming down the line but not flailing.
I'm listening to the Marlins' radio guys and laugh every time one of them reads the promo that urges fans to come out this season to see the "Fighting Fish".
Not a super-clean outing for Foster Griffin, who labored in both the first and third innings, giving up a total of three runs. He issued two early walks, not to mention four hits including Agustin Ramirez's double to deep right-center. He did notch four strikeouts, and he finished strong by retiring seven of the last eight batters he faced, but his command was kind of all over the place during a 78-pitch start.
At the plate, the Nats have scored a pair of runs through the first five innings. They got a roped double to left-center by Andres Chaparro (off a righty, a good sign) and an RBI single by CJ Abrams on a sinking liner to center. Then Brady House legged out a grounder to the left side for a single and ultimately scored on Drew Millas' single to right, running through Victor Estevez's late stop sign at third.
Box score shows 5 K and 79 P, but I agree with your analysis; however, he did end with two scoreless innings, faced only one more batter than the minimum, and struck out the last two batters he faced. 79 pitches in 5 innings ain’t bad, 3 ER are bad, but he did finish okay. I was much more unhappy after the third inning, but on reflection, I’ll take this as growing into the season. Hopefully he settles down next start.
Cionel Perez has looked great all spring, and tonight was no exception. He just retired the side in the bottom of the sixth on 10 pitches, including a nasty slider to strike out Dillon Head. That's now six scoreless innings for the lefty this spring.
Just got back from interviewing Foster Griffin, and it's worth noting he was pleased for the most part with tonight. He said in that first inning he was specifically working on some things he wouldn't normally do -- ditching his cutter -- and that led in part to the two walks. He felt like there was only one hard-hit ball off him (the Ramirez double in the third) and was pleased with how he finished strong. Plenty more coming in my postgame report.
Be good to see Young get some at bats too.
Young batting 2nd. Don't see that every day.
Looks to me like they're just trying to get as many at bats as they can for Wood and Young.
Mark you have brought up them adding another outfielder a couple times today. You are not holding out
some secret from us are you?
No, just my interpretation of Butera saying we shouldn't just assume the five guys remaining in camp are guaranteed to be the five guys on Opening Day.
CJ drives in Chaparro. 1-0. And then gets picked off 1st.
CJ being CJ.
Just awful from CJ.
That, along with fielding mistakes, are things that can’t keep happening, things that a player can control. I like CJ’s talent, but he really needs to focus more.
Wood hitting .132 in ST with two more strikeouts. Ugh.
Yes but those were both decent ABs. He saw at least 15 pitches.
That's good to hear. Not flailing or looking lost, correct?
Correct I would not describe those ABs that way (sitting in the stands right now). Worked them both full, fouled of a few, nothing screaming down the line but not flailing.
His 3rd AB was not competitive at all...
Hmmm. Frustration setting in perhaps.
Down to .128 in ST. Seems like the issues he had at the end of last year have carried over to this year.
Another non competitive at bat for Wood. Down to .125 with 4 strikeouts. Looks lost and befuddled at the plate. Maybe he should go to AAA as well.
Nobody on the team has hit well this ST except House. Really worried about offense this year.
And House just manufactured that run with hustle (and some help from Drew Millas).
Foster Griffin throwing a crazy assortment of off speed stuff and it hasn't been fooling anybody on the Marlins.
Not good to hear, unless he's just seeing what works and what doesn't. It is still spring training, for a few more days.
I’d rather see Alvarez get this starting slot. He looked good last year and his spring performance was very decent.
I'm listening to the Marlins' radio guys and laugh every time one of them reads the promo that urges fans to come out this season to see the "Fighting Fish".
Now we're talkin'!
Not a super-clean outing for Foster Griffin, who labored in both the first and third innings, giving up a total of three runs. He issued two early walks, not to mention four hits including Agustin Ramirez's double to deep right-center. He did notch four strikeouts, and he finished strong by retiring seven of the last eight batters he faced, but his command was kind of all over the place during a 78-pitch start.
At the plate, the Nats have scored a pair of runs through the first five innings. They got a roped double to left-center by Andres Chaparro (off a righty, a good sign) and an RBI single by CJ Abrams on a sinking liner to center. Then Brady House legged out a grounder to the left side for a single and ultimately scored on Drew Millas' single to right, running through Victor Estevez's late stop sign at third.
I'm eager to see Griffin at Nats Park (or on Nats TV) where his pitch mix will be a little easier to decipher.
Box score shows 5 K and 79 P, but I agree with your analysis; however, he did end with two scoreless innings, faced only one more batter than the minimum, and struck out the last two batters he faced. 79 pitches in 5 innings ain’t bad, 3 ER are bad, but he did finish okay. I was much more unhappy after the third inning, but on reflection, I’ll take this as growing into the season. Hopefully he settles down next start.
Not forgetting also that he may still be "working on stuff." Box score is as box score does.
Griffin did a good job of keeping that error from causing harm (other than pitch count).
3-2 Fish, bot 6th.
Btw, Marlins 3rd baseman, Javier Sanoja, is the guy that stole 2nd for Venezuela in the WBC and later scored the winning run.
Lile just worked a 10-pitch walk. Nice.
And then he gets caught stealing! Not nice.
Cionel Perez has looked great all spring, and tonight was no exception. He just retired the side in the bottom of the sixth on 10 pitches, including a nasty slider to strike out Dillon Head. That's now six scoreless innings for the lefty this spring.
He’s a keeper.
Just got back from interviewing Foster Griffin, and it's worth noting he was pleased for the most part with tonight. He said in that first inning he was specifically working on some things he wouldn't normally do -- ditching his cutter -- and that led in part to the two walks. He felt like there was only one hard-hit ball off him (the Ramirez double in the third) and was pleased with how he finished strong. Plenty more coming in my postgame report.
I was hoping he was "working on stuff".
Oh my, rough night for JW, even with some decent ABs.
Golden sombrero for James tonight. Wow.
Is he next for Rochester?
No way. But I’ll admit the phrase Golden Rochestero crossed my mind.
He just strikes out way too much.