Behind 7 1/3 innings from Foster Griffin and clutch hits from Dylan Crews, Luis García Jr. and Curtis Mead, the Nationals won the opener of a big series
Foster Griffin, have a night man. I honestly would’ve let him have the rest of that inning he was that awesome tonight. Only one true mistake pitch to Marsh, but other than that that was amazing.
And methinks Dylan is starting to really figure it out. However, he and Mead were absolutely ROBBED in that eighth inning.
can’t believe that lousy strike 3 call with the bases loaded in bottom 8. It’s like the ump got that mad Crews started walking to first and remembered we were out of challenges. What a schmuck! Glad it didn’t make a difference in a great team win.
The strike 3 call before that one to punch out Mead not as bad but still awful. Hopefully it will be a rather harmless lesson to the team about not using challenges too early…
Those two called strike 3 in the bottom of the 8th are absolutely BS. Ruiz needs to keep his hand away from his helmet and not challenge pitches… his lost challenge cost the Nats at least 2 insurance run in the bottom of the 8th.
The Ump needs to do his job regardless. Ruiz had a great game recently with challenges. I’m not holding tonight against him. That was all on the ump. Wasn’t it Lile that wasted the other challenge tonight? But his did make more since.
Ruiz was trying to steal a strike at a point where it made sense. Lile's was less advised. Ruiz has gotten a lot better with challenges and according to Spencer Nusbaum from the Athletic he works on it. Currently I have no complaints of Ruiz who is having the best year of his career.
Lile challenged a very, very close pitch when there were runners on base with a RISP. There was no need at all for Ruiz to make the challenge he made. No need whatsoever. I believe it was already 1 out, no runners on base, and he challenged Ball 1 on the first pitch to Trea. And I agree…I’m very proud of Ruiz this season.
You may be right, it there was a runner in scoring position. I do think it was the 8th inning when Ruiz used his challenge and the Nats had a 3 run lead.
I do not recall if DL wasted one , but KR shouldn’t have challenged on that pitch. The HPU was really off on both those pitches especially the Crews K. As a former umpire I would rather have ABS vs the ABS challenge system. At every echelon of umpiring we are taught to not be part of the outcome by calling a clean game.
Griffin really only left two pitches near the center of the plate all night one got hit for a leadoff double, and the other left the park. Other than that, he was in control.
The inning where he gave up the leadoff double told me a lot. The runner got to third with one out, and the Nationals brought the infield in. That showed real confidence in Griffin’s ability to get the ground ball. Instead, I think he got a pop up to short and then a grounder to escape it. That was when I knew he was pitching and he was in control.
When a pitcher can work out of trouble like that, it shows what he’s made of and how the night is going. Griffin has the eye of an eagle and the heart of a lion (a Griffin). I really think the Nationals should try to sign him ASAP and give him some guaranteed money.
Besides that, both Mead and Crews had good at bats. Dave said Mead wanted more sticky stuff and the umpire wouldn’t let him, so he went ahead and hit a home run anyway.
And Lovelady striking out the last two batters in the eighth was great to see. I like Lovelady and I like his story. He’ll always be a little wild, but that’s part of the mystery.
I was thinking the same. Problem is, House is basically damaged goods at this point. You would have to sell low on him. Not sure how much sense that would make.
It all depends on how the players and the team are doing going into the deadline and whether they are buyers or sellers and the seriousness of the moves they want to make. Anything could happen. For example, if they get a chance to acquire a controllable pitcher who is a significant upgrade, they may have to give up some nice players. Mead would have more value in that scenario.
The team has an attachment to Mead because Butera had coached him on the Ray’s A team and Butera pushed to acquire him when the White Sox DFA’d him at the beginning of the season. They probably aren’t in a rush to “sell high” on him since he’s doing so well and they believe in him. They may view House as more of a potential trade chip but I don’t think it’s because they view him as more superfluous or have given up on him. He’s only 23. As the Boz used to write, quoting Earl Weaver, “everything depends on everything.” It will be interesting to see.
Here is a hare-brained thought… if the Nats are in the race at the deadline…my Christmas wish in July/August is the Nats figuring out how to get Skubal🤔🤔🤔🤔
I haven’t commented on the broadcast crew except Alexa till now. Dan needs a real home run call in my opinion. Just a guess that he didn’t want to do anything akin to what Bob did with CU Later, but whatever he is doing with it’s out of here doesn’t meet the moment of a HR like Mead’s tonight. And I do like Dan.
This one sends a message. We'll played.
Extend Griffin. All this talk of needing major league ready pitching. You have a developed, reborn vet right there.
Hope the Phils liked seeing Dylan Crews ball out, he’s hopefully going to be a pain in their neck for a while
Why does Griffin extend with the Nats over testing free agency?
So worth waiting out the rains. Awesome pitching display.
Foster Griffin, have a night man. I honestly would’ve let him have the rest of that inning he was that awesome tonight. Only one true mistake pitch to Marsh, but other than that that was amazing.
And methinks Dylan is starting to really figure it out. However, he and Mead were absolutely ROBBED in that eighth inning.
Great statement win for the Nats!! Keep it rollin' boys!!
can’t believe that lousy strike 3 call with the bases loaded in bottom 8. It’s like the ump got that mad Crews started walking to first and remembered we were out of challenges. What a schmuck! Glad it didn’t make a difference in a great team win.
The strike 3 call before that one to punch out Mead not as bad but still awful. Hopefully it will be a rather harmless lesson to the team about not using challenges too early…
And if he hadn’t started walking to third, the ump would’ve still called it since he looked unsure. Lousy job by the ump.
What a GREAT CURLY W!! LOVE BEATING THE phillies!! GO NATS!!
Those two called strike 3 in the bottom of the 8th are absolutely BS. Ruiz needs to keep his hand away from his helmet and not challenge pitches… his lost challenge cost the Nats at least 2 insurance run in the bottom of the 8th.
The Ump needs to do his job regardless. Ruiz had a great game recently with challenges. I’m not holding tonight against him. That was all on the ump. Wasn’t it Lile that wasted the other challenge tonight? But his did make more since.
the strike zone tonight was like ping pong balls coming up out of the lottery machine... whatever, ball/strike
Ruiz was trying to steal a strike at a point where it made sense. Lile's was less advised. Ruiz has gotten a lot better with challenges and according to Spencer Nusbaum from the Athletic he works on it. Currently I have no complaints of Ruiz who is having the best year of his career.
Lile challenged a very, very close pitch when there were runners on base with a RISP. There was no need at all for Ruiz to make the challenge he made. No need whatsoever. I believe it was already 1 out, no runners on base, and he challenged Ball 1 on the first pitch to Trea. And I agree…I’m very proud of Ruiz this season.
You may be right, it there was a runner in scoring position. I do think it was the 8th inning when Ruiz used his challenge and the Nats had a 3 run lead.
Keibert is have no an all-star year
Yes lile lost a challenge
I do not recall if DL wasted one , but KR shouldn’t have challenged on that pitch. The HPU was really off on both those pitches especially the Crews K. As a former umpire I would rather have ABS vs the ABS challenge system. At every echelon of umpiring we are taught to not be part of the outcome by calling a clean game.
dunno if it was an off night or if he's just a bad ball/strike umpire, but Jeremie Rehak was terrible tonight
apropos of nothing, Brandon Marsh's hair thing is just gross
He hasn't cut it in years
Needs to be de liced
Griffin really only left two pitches near the center of the plate all night one got hit for a leadoff double, and the other left the park. Other than that, he was in control.
The inning where he gave up the leadoff double told me a lot. The runner got to third with one out, and the Nationals brought the infield in. That showed real confidence in Griffin’s ability to get the ground ball. Instead, I think he got a pop up to short and then a grounder to escape it. That was when I knew he was pitching and he was in control.
When a pitcher can work out of trouble like that, it shows what he’s made of and how the night is going. Griffin has the eye of an eagle and the heart of a lion (a Griffin). I really think the Nationals should try to sign him ASAP and give him some guaranteed money.
Besides that, both Mead and Crews had good at bats. Dave said Mead wanted more sticky stuff and the umpire wouldn’t let him, so he went ahead and hit a home run anyway.
And Lovelady striking out the last two batters in the eighth was great to see. I like Lovelady and I like his story. He’ll always be a little wild, but that’s part of the mystery.
He played like an all-star tonight. Shutting down that lineup is major.
I now wonder if Brady House has become a trade chip. Someone needs to be and Mead has taken his job.
I was thinking the same. Problem is, House is basically damaged goods at this point. You would have to sell low on him. Not sure how much sense that would make.
I don’t think he’s damaged yet. To young and too much success against lefties. He’s still a top prospect
Luckily for us all I am just a fan and not the GM… I know I am impatient.
Robert hassel iii would make more sense to me as a prospect to move. No place for him here
Hassell wouldn’t get much of a return either.
Yeah, I only expect a reliever back. Like Brady but he hasn’t shown much upside.
It all depends on how the players and the team are doing going into the deadline and whether they are buyers or sellers and the seriousness of the moves they want to make. Anything could happen. For example, if they get a chance to acquire a controllable pitcher who is a significant upgrade, they may have to give up some nice players. Mead would have more value in that scenario.
The team has an attachment to Mead because Butera had coached him on the Ray’s A team and Butera pushed to acquire him when the White Sox DFA’d him at the beginning of the season. They probably aren’t in a rush to “sell high” on him since he’s doing so well and they believe in him. They may view House as more of a potential trade chip but I don’t think it’s because they view him as more superfluous or have given up on him. He’s only 23. As the Boz used to write, quoting Earl Weaver, “everything depends on everything.” It will be interesting to see.
Here is a hare-brained thought… if the Nats are in the race at the deadline…my Christmas wish in July/August is the Nats figuring out how to get Skubal🤔🤔🤔🤔
Don't want to give up the prospect haul a Skubal rental would require. Stick to the plan and build for the long term.
Griffin knew he needed to save the bullpen tonight, and he got the job done. I was giving him a standing ovation from my living room.
YES! 💪🏾
I haven’t commented on the broadcast crew except Alexa till now. Dan needs a real home run call in my opinion. Just a guess that he didn’t want to do anything akin to what Bob did with CU Later, but whatever he is doing with it’s out of here doesn’t meet the moment of a HR like Mead’s tonight. And I do like Dan.
Kevin F took a real cheap shot at the 1b umpire calling him blind on the pulled foot reviewed call. Very unprofessional.
Especially on a league broadcast - not the old local broadcast.
I like Dan, just don’t like him as the play-by-play person. We need a real pro with a history with the game.
The PxP who did the Peacock broadcast of Nats was quite good.
Spot on about Garcia crazy golfing swings and seemingly effortless HR swings.
He is the Team's dugout leader.
If the Nats had 2 more consistent relievers..
Always nice to beat the Phillies.
NN is exciting.
Go Nats
Horrible 2 at bat call out strikes on Nats in the 8th.
Poor poor umpiring..