In the 10th, after the Nats took the lead, I started typing why are they pinch hitting for their best defensive outfielder. But mid typing that sentence, Jose made the manager look like a genius with the game winning HR!
Luis just needs to be told he can never challenge. He always thinks he’s safe when he’s out too but coaches (both old and seemingly new) have final say on replay and have learned not to listen…
Luis García Jr. has no idea where the strike zone is. Good thing he's a bad ball hitter and can hit bad pitches, because he’s only got four walks this year. To be fair, he doesn’t strike out at an intolerable rate.
The RBI single that Schultz gave up was an incredible piece of hitting by Tristan Peters. It was a changeup with good movement about 8 inches below the zone. He executed his pitch perfectly, and the batter just beat him. Tip the cap and move on...which, thankfully, he did to the tune of 2 strikeouts to end the game.
Coming out of this stretch with a winning record is amazing and encouraging for everyone involved. Took some roster and rotation maneuvering from the front office that didn’t always work, but the offense and pitching have each started to show they can pick up the other on the right day.
Just saw Alexa Datt’s interview with Richard L. At first I was disappointed it wasn’t with Paxton S. who just held on there in the 10th. But the interview was really time well spent. Insightful and emotion in his answers. Appreciate her asking real questions that allowed us to see what makes him tick when it comes to playing the game. She really deserves more air time than she is given.
I agree, both Alexa and Lovelady came across really well in that interview. I’m rooting for the kid. And Alexa is by far the best hire they’ve made in a while; she’s a real sports reporter, not just filling air time. Chelsea Janes is still my favorite baseball writer, with Mark and Spencer Nusbaum right there too. I usually stick with the radio feed anyway, I’m more interested in the game than two guys yukking it up.
Yeah I have to say I was skeptical about Alexa Datt at first but she's won me over. She seems a lot more comfortable now AND she's asking some probing questions. That Lovelady interview you could tell he was moved when thinking of his son. Beautiful.
LOL…”seemingly trying to prove which if them could make three outs the faster than the other”.
These two teams mirror each other and the entire series seemed to prove that. Hope we can continue putting a few nails in Mets coffin and (ready for this comment) “distance ourselves from the Mets.” But I feel certain Mets are looking forward to see Nats come town to turn things around.
Looking forward to seeing if Toboni makes any more roster moves before Tuesday’s Mets series opener. Nats sure are fun to watch this year.
This is just a hypothetical, for-fun response to your observations and question. Just some thoughts... 1) Mead is DFA'ed. 2) Y. Morales from Rochester to DC. Plays 1b, 3b, and dh. Hitting way over .300 at Rochester. Gives (potentially) more offense and positional flexibility. 3) C. Wallace from Harrisburg to Rochester. He is hitting over .300 with power. Plays 3b, replaces Morales. (4 Petry from Wilmington (hitting over .300) to Harrisburg. It sort of, kind of lines up. The one caveat: we're still early. Only April.
I am all for seeing some of those players getting a chance. But although Mead is maybe the 24th or 25th man on the roster (Tena seems like #26), I really appreciate his fielding (mostly 1B so far, but he looked good at 2nd the other day). So if they did let him go to minors, we need a good utility fielder and I’m not sure it should be Tena or Vivas. And right now it looks like Nunez will remain a starter though he would be best positioned as the utility guy (IMO).
Were the White Sox really out of ABS challenges when Meidroth issued his challenge in the 10th, or did Franny and Dan just forget a team without challenges gets another under the rules when the game goes to extra innings?
Mark, thank you for calling the added runner in extra innings the more accurate "automatic runner". It irks me to hear "ghost runner" (we can all see him) or "zombie runner" (he's very much alive). Worse, but rarely used, is the "Manfred Man" (a doo wah diddy diddy dumb term).
Some games are just satisfying without a lot of fireworks like drinking gin and tonics watching the surf and in the end the day concludes on positive note and you are drunk
Here are José Tena’s PH stats so far this year: .571 / .571 / 1.000 / 1.571.
Those are elite numbers for a pinch hitter. Sure, it’s only 7 at‑bats, but the difference compared to his non‑pinch‑hit line .225 / .286 / .250 / .536 is glaring. Maybe it’s adrenaline, maybe it’s matchups, but whatever it is, he turns into a different hitter off the bench.
FanGraphs calculates phLI which is Pinch Hit Leverage Index. Tena’s phLI so far this year is 1.75. Pinch hitters (phLI) with this number are very good and are deemed to be in "high-leverage" roles, as 1.75 indicates a moment that can significantly swing the outcome of a game.
Paxton Shultz earned that. No walks, no HRs. Threw strikes with intention.
Mark, just curious, with all our Red Sox connections, do you think Taboni will pick up any of the coaches released yesterday?
This should be for Mark Z to answer, but it’s a good question. Some recognizable names fired.
They would certainly be familiar with Taboni's mindset.
They might be a bit old to coach here
I doubt it. Cora and the others were clashing with the BoSox Analytic department. See time stamp 4:34
https://youtu.be/qGef2x5dITo?si=I6NMjQN6nf6BW9ai
Nail biter, all the way. Lots of contributors for this team win
In the 10th, after the Nats took the lead, I started typing why are they pinch hitting for their best defensive outfielder. But mid typing that sentence, Jose made the manager look like a genius with the game winning HR!
I was also typing that message to my friends and couldn't get it out before the home run.
I still think it was a bizarre move. However, "bizarre" is a synonym for "genius" when it works.
Exactly!!
Nice way to cap off the weekend.
Lots of holes still and Lord knows (pun intended) our bullpen can be a big mess, but feeling pretty good about this squad.
Maybe just maybe if the starters start going deeper into the game it might give the BP some consistent roles and they might improve.
Great write up Mark. I'd add Jacob Youngs catch somewhere in the story as it might of saved the game.
Luis García Jr. losing the challenge with 2-0 on the scoreboard… Thanks we didn’t need it
Luis just needs to be told he can never challenge. He always thinks he’s safe when he’s out too but coaches (both old and seemingly new) have final say on replay and have learned not to listen…
Luis García Jr. has no idea where the strike zone is. Good thing he's a bad ball hitter and can hit bad pitches, because he’s only got four walks this year. To be fair, he doesn’t strike out at an intolerable rate.
Or he changes a lot or not tender him will be the best play
IMO, Luis is not long for this team
Luis made a nice play though on the bunt by throwing really fast to third.
The RBI single that Schultz gave up was an incredible piece of hitting by Tristan Peters. It was a changeup with good movement about 8 inches below the zone. He executed his pitch perfectly, and the batter just beat him. Tip the cap and move on...which, thankfully, he did to the tune of 2 strikeouts to end the game.
Coming out of this stretch with a winning record is amazing and encouraging for everyone involved. Took some roster and rotation maneuvering from the front office that didn’t always work, but the offense and pitching have each started to show they can pick up the other on the right day.
Foster Griffin!
Road warriors! 10-6 away record.
Nice seeing a starter go deep. Bats went cold, so it was nice to see them win a game that required a different style of play.
Nats are so good on the road that I
like their chances in Queens (as long as Littell and Mikolas don’t get shellacked early.
Just saw Alexa Datt’s interview with Richard L. At first I was disappointed it wasn’t with Paxton S. who just held on there in the 10th. But the interview was really time well spent. Insightful and emotion in his answers. Appreciate her asking real questions that allowed us to see what makes him tick when it comes to playing the game. She really deserves more air time than she is given.
I agree, both Alexa and Lovelady came across really well in that interview. I’m rooting for the kid. And Alexa is by far the best hire they’ve made in a while; she’s a real sports reporter, not just filling air time. Chelsea Janes is still my favorite baseball writer, with Mark and Spencer Nusbaum right there too. I usually stick with the radio feed anyway, I’m more interested in the game than two guys yukking it up.
She is all Datt!
Yeah I have to say I was skeptical about Alexa Datt at first but she's won me over. She seems a lot more comfortable now AND she's asking some probing questions. That Lovelady interview you could tell he was moved when thinking of his son. Beautiful.
LOL…”seemingly trying to prove which if them could make three outs the faster than the other”.
These two teams mirror each other and the entire series seemed to prove that. Hope we can continue putting a few nails in Mets coffin and (ready for this comment) “distance ourselves from the Mets.” But I feel certain Mets are looking forward to see Nats come town to turn things around.
Looking forward to seeing if Toboni makes any more roster moves before Tuesday’s Mets series opener. Nats sure are fun to watch this year.
This is just a hypothetical, for-fun response to your observations and question. Just some thoughts... 1) Mead is DFA'ed. 2) Y. Morales from Rochester to DC. Plays 1b, 3b, and dh. Hitting way over .300 at Rochester. Gives (potentially) more offense and positional flexibility. 3) C. Wallace from Harrisburg to Rochester. He is hitting over .300 with power. Plays 3b, replaces Morales. (4 Petry from Wilmington (hitting over .300) to Harrisburg. It sort of, kind of lines up. The one caveat: we're still early. Only April.
I am all for seeing some of those players getting a chance. But although Mead is maybe the 24th or 25th man on the roster (Tena seems like #26), I really appreciate his fielding (mostly 1B so far, but he looked good at 2nd the other day). So if they did let him go to minors, we need a good utility fielder and I’m not sure it should be Tena or Vivas. And right now it looks like Nunez will remain a starter though he would be best positioned as the utility guy (IMO).
Were the White Sox really out of ABS challenges when Meidroth issued his challenge in the 10th, or did Franny and Dan just forget a team without challenges gets another under the rules when the game goes to extra innings?
I thought they were out, the score board also showed them without any left
If I'm reading the box score correctly, they did have a challenge available in the 10th when Meidroth challenged the pitch.
Yes, my sense was that they had 1 (but the telecast scoreboard was wrong, which threw DK and KF off).
In the end …
Mark, thank you for calling the added runner in extra innings the more accurate "automatic runner". It irks me to hear "ghost runner" (we can all see him) or "zombie runner" (he's very much alive). Worse, but rarely used, is the "Manfred Man" (a doo wah diddy diddy dumb term).
Quinn the Eskimo
You ain't seen nothin'like it
Some games are just satisfying without a lot of fireworks like drinking gin and tonics watching the surf and in the end the day concludes on positive note and you are drunk
Exactly
Here are José Tena’s PH stats so far this year: .571 / .571 / 1.000 / 1.571.
Those are elite numbers for a pinch hitter. Sure, it’s only 7 at‑bats, but the difference compared to his non‑pinch‑hit line .225 / .286 / .250 / .536 is glaring. Maybe it’s adrenaline, maybe it’s matchups, but whatever it is, he turns into a different hitter off the bench.
FanGraphs calculates phLI which is Pinch Hit Leverage Index. Tena’s phLI so far this year is 1.75. Pinch hitters (phLI) with this number are very good and are deemed to be in "high-leverage" roles, as 1.75 indicates a moment that can significantly swing the outcome of a game.