And Nuñez again leadoff, and Hassell again CF. Seaver King second base… interesting. If Abrams is traded there is a plan (the good point). The bad: they are going to trade him now or at mid season (I think is a good point too)
Wood has a better arm than Lile, so it makes sense to play James in RF and Lile in LF. Plus Nats have a solid history of transitioning left fielders into right fielders: Harper and Soto. It works! And most importantly, it appears from Wood's comment yesterday that he prefers RF?
Interested in seeing Lomavita again. He's not one of the main top prospects (#15-20?), but he's a young kid that can catch or transition to 1st/DH eventually.
I am loving following the ST games. Despite the clunker last night, it is good to get a look at some of the lesser know players, and see what strides the guys that have been here the past couple years are making - even if it has been literally a hand full of games.
Good to see Nasim Nunez get things going out of the leadoff spot with an opposite-field double off an 0-2 pitch, then come around to score. Not so great to see Jake Eder give up a homer to Bryson Stott on an up-and-away fastball in the bottom of the first.
Rough relief outing for Gus Varland, who was charged with four runs in only two-thirds of an inning and served up a two-run homer to the previously unknown Kehden Hettiger on a fastball right over the plate. Varland also gave up doubles to Dante Nori and Bryce Harper before getting pulled by Blake Butera before completing his inning.
On the bright side, Andres Chaparro blasted a two-run homer off lefty Tanner Banks in the top of the fourth to trim the deficit to 5-3. If Chaparro is going to be part of a first base platoon, that's exactly what he needs to do: Hit for power against lefties.
The losing streak is now two games after a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Phillies. Not a great overnight trip to the Gulf Coast for the Nats. The positives today: Andres Chaparro homered, Nasim Nunez doubled. The negatives: Jake Eder surrendered a homer, Gus Varland surrendered a homer and two doubles, Bryce Montes de Oca threw only 8-of-24 pitches for strikes.
Up next: The Nats return home to West Palm Beach to face the Astros on Friday night. Miles Mikolas will make his spring debut on the mound.
This is the point when on the old WaPo comment section, people would be bashing the players and coaches, and predicting doom and gloom for years, if not decades to come. I tend to take a different point of view, and that nearly all of the players are going to take a step forward under the new coaching, management and leadership. That's why they play the games. And since I was a kid, when the Senators played and then left for TX, followed by 30+ years without a home team, I am really happy to have a team, won a WS Championship and that we have the new guys running the show.
Yes. Mr. Zuckerman was one of those who fequently questioned what Rizzo and company were possibly thinking wasting that roster spot. He must have written it in 3 dozen+ articles that season. Slowly we all started to see what he brought to the table. Great defender and lots of intangibles combined with a tremendous work ethic that just may develop into an impactful major league player.
Wood , Crews and Lile all 0 for the spring . Not worried about Lile but the other two cause me great concern . Cant watch Wood go through months of striking out again and we don't have any veterans with power like Rosario, DeJong or Lowe
And Nuñez again leadoff, and Hassell again CF. Seaver King second base… interesting. If Abrams is traded there is a plan (the good point). The bad: they are going to trade him now or at mid season (I think is a good point too)
Led off with a double and later scored
I really like seeing Woods in RF and Lile in LF. Feels like the way to extract max value out of each of them.
Wood has a better arm than Lile, so it makes sense to play James in RF and Lile in LF. Plus Nats have a solid history of transitioning left fielders into right fielders: Harper and Soto. It works! And most importantly, it appears from Wood's comment yesterday that he prefers RF?
Interested in seeing Lomavita again. He's not one of the main top prospects (#15-20?), but he's a young kid that can catch or transition to 1st/DH eventually.
I am loving following the ST games. Despite the clunker last night, it is good to get a look at some of the lesser know players, and see what strides the guys that have been here the past couple years are making - even if it has been literally a hand full of games.
I have returned as an exile. I already see a couple names I recognize. Hopefully I will discover many more as time goes on.
Good to see Nasim Nunez get things going out of the leadoff spot with an opposite-field double off an 0-2 pitch, then come around to score. Not so great to see Jake Eder give up a homer to Bryson Stott on an up-and-away fastball in the bottom of the first.
Especially after getting ahead 0-2, then failing to get the next three pitches over before giving up the homer.
Varland appears to know where the middle of the plate is.
Nasim Nunez is such a tremendous (and entertaining) defender
Nunez looking very good at shortstop.
Totally not overreacting to early spring training games when I say I’m all in on the idea of a breakout Nasim Nuñez year
Nasim Nuñez is having another good game, especially in the field, and the Philly broadcasters keep singing his praises.
Nice two-run homer from Andrés Chaparro -- could he be the answer at 1B?
I think he indeed may be the first man up at 1B.
At this point, I think it's Chaparro or Ortiz (obtained in the Gore deal).
Andres certainly has the veteran edge.
Rough relief outing for Gus Varland, who was charged with four runs in only two-thirds of an inning and served up a two-run homer to the previously unknown Kehden Hettiger on a fastball right over the plate. Varland also gave up doubles to Dante Nori and Bryce Harper before getting pulled by Blake Butera before completing his inning.
On the bright side, Andres Chaparro blasted a two-run homer off lefty Tanner Banks in the top of the fourth to trim the deficit to 5-3. If Chaparro is going to be part of a first base platoon, that's exactly what he needs to do: Hit for power against lefties.
If you had forgotten (or didn't know), Nunez was a Rule 5 acquisition.
Just sayin'.
speaking of Rule 5, I don't believe we've seen Griff McGarry once in a game. Not sure what to make - if anything - of that.
Is he in the camp?
He must be practicing sitting on the bullpen bench for a full season. 😎
The losing streak is now two games after a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Phillies. Not a great overnight trip to the Gulf Coast for the Nats. The positives today: Andres Chaparro homered, Nasim Nunez doubled. The negatives: Jake Eder surrendered a homer, Gus Varland surrendered a homer and two doubles, Bryce Montes de Oca threw only 8-of-24 pitches for strikes.
Up next: The Nats return home to West Palm Beach to face the Astros on Friday night. Miles Mikolas will make his spring debut on the mound.
At least they scored today. :-)
This is the point when on the old WaPo comment section, people would be bashing the players and coaches, and predicting doom and gloom for years, if not decades to come. I tend to take a different point of view, and that nearly all of the players are going to take a step forward under the new coaching, management and leadership. That's why they play the games. And since I was a kid, when the Senators played and then left for TX, followed by 30+ years without a home team, I am really happy to have a team, won a WS Championship and that we have the new guys running the show.
Nasim Nunez was much maligned by some commenters for soaking up a roster spot while on ghost duty. Now there is a rose budding in the cabbage patch.
Yes. Mr. Zuckerman was one of those who fequently questioned what Rizzo and company were possibly thinking wasting that roster spot. He must have written it in 3 dozen+ articles that season. Slowly we all started to see what he brought to the table. Great defender and lots of intangibles combined with a tremendous work ethic that just may develop into an impactful major league player.
The what section?! -:)
Already seems like a long time ago.
No sheetz!
Happy to have a team... No kidding! I'm with you on that.
Wood , Crews and Lile all 0 for the spring . Not worried about Lile but the other two cause me great concern . Cant watch Wood go through months of striking out again and we don't have any veterans with power like Rosario, DeJong or Lowe