I wasn’t sure how to feel about his performance, honestly. He settled down so much that part of me wishes the offense could have at least gotten him off the hook (if not a win).
“Sophomoric?” Now THAT’S a million-dollar word. Haven’t seen it in a sentence since I took the SAT. But it’s the perfect word to use for my initial comment.
Game was all but over after top 6, when Nats had two already in and two in scoring position with one out and, as Mark recounts, couldn’t score another. But there’s always tomorrow — after all, as Scarlett often said, tomorrow is another day…And it could be worse: Os — who recall were supposed to at least sniff a Wild Card — with another bad loss, 8-2 to the Pale Hose, with another brutal error by Blaze Alexander at third….
Am starting to think that maybe our bullpen issues is more the guys are mentally not prepared for loud, high stakes environments. They seem to perform perfectly fine when not in a high leverage situation, seems the loud playoff crowds are not something they’re accustomed to
Mikolas is so bad man. That’s all I’ll say pitchign wise.
Hitting wise, I knew we were gonna struggle against Ranger Suarez, but holy lord that constantly expanding zone the home plate umpire was giving us was angering.
The first inning was awful, but of the six runs, one was a 338 foot fly ball hr over the monster, an out in every other park. And one was a sac fly after Mead whiffed a tag on a SB of third after a great throw by Ruiz. So really should have been 4 runs in 7 innings, a decent outing.
That’s about his regular ERA (5 - 6). One of the worst in the majors and along the lines of what we have been dealing with Corbin, Parker, and Irvin the past several years.
Nats specialize in picking up pitchers like Mikolas off the scrap heap in the offseason. So, every 5th game, Nats spot our opponent a much better than even chance to win that game. Over the course of the season, these uncompetitive starts dig a big hole. Butera and his coaching staff haven’t been able to work their magic on these pitchers like they have on our hitters. Plus, the best chances to replace Mikolas and other bad starting pitchers (Sykora, Gray, Herz, Williams) aren’t saving us this season.
Totally agree. I am puzzled by all the happy talk about Mikolas's performance. After the first inning I could not watch any longer and I switched to watching my other team, the Brewers. Great to watch a team with good pitching and defense. I figured if he gave up so many runs in the first inning, it wasn't going to get much better, and I was right. I have little confidence in him.
Mikolas may have 'saved the BP' as they say, but that's because he was so bad they essentially conceded the game and didn't need to waste any more pitchers in a losing cause. He saved the BP, but the cost was, at least for me, an unwatchable game.
Would you have rather yanked him after the first and use 4 RPs afterwards? Or would you have used Poulin ( after 2 innings pitching the night before) as the opener and hope Mikolas goes 7 to 8 innings. Or have Cornelio make his Major League debut at Fenway? Or have Cavalli pitch with 3 days rest? Just interested to know what options you have to offer.
Nope. I am not suggesting the problem was due to poor management. I have no problem with Butera. He did the best he could with the poor hand he was dealt. Look, we have bad pitching. There are some days when I need a break from it! I think it is a waste of time to quibble about whom to bring in. I trust Butera knows more than I do about who is rested and who will do better in a given situation. In fact, we doing well to be around .500 given the pitching talent we have. I am sure we would be far below .500 if I were the manager!
I don't know if you have this issue in mind, but it is Toboni who put this roster together. It surprises me a bit that the press isn't questioning him more about his off-season moves (including trades).
They have and they are . Spencer & Kyle Williams wrote articles in today’s Athletic and Baltimore Banner respectively about his thoughts about the trade deadline. Spencer and the Baltimore Banner wrote extensively about Toboni’s offseason trades.
Agreed - I knew and probably just about everyone on this site knew that Mikolas has been one of the worst pitchers in the majors the past several seasons. He has in many ways been better than expected this season, but is a major drag on the team. But certainly not the only one.
Right. You know, though, this has been a great season to date. We have differing views on Toboni's trades but not on this season. It has been a blast. I still see us finishing somewhere in the neighborhood of .500. Hope so, in all events.
Agree - the game was practically lost early in the first inning. No moral victories because he was able to pitch much of the game. He is paid to do so and as a veteran should be able to be ready to pitch competitively when it’s his turn to pitch.
This is the game that illustrates everything dysfunctional with this team and Mikolas is just another AWFUL Free Agent Pitcher this team has been so good at finding over the years
This is where I always disagree with the idea the game is over early in baseball. This isn’t the NFL, NBA, NHL or soccer (sorry “futbol” fans!) where time runs out on a come back victory. As Earl Weaver was fond of saying, “You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all.” If one team can score 5 runs in their half of one-out-of-nine innings, so can the other team. Yogi Berra was right: “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” To borrow another line from Anthony Hopkins in “The Edge”: “What one team can do, another can do.” Even if they wait until the 9th inning. There’s no clock to run out. Never throw in the towel in baseball (unless you’re down to Vivas pitching for you!).
I agree with you, from a factual standpoint. I just mean from a morale/momentum standpoint. When he gave up the second homer, groaned. I watched until the last out, but still…
Nats have had only three losing streaks of 3 or more games, consisting of 3, 4 and 5 losses. They have had two 4-game and two 3-game winning streaks this season. Thomas Boswell once wrote a column on winning and losing streaks teams go through in a season, but I remember he was talking about longer streaks than just 4 or 5. I can’t find the article, but it was one of his “part of the baseball season” most teams experience, with the idea that the good teams just put together more of the long winning streaks than the bad. And there are only a few that are long. Nats haven’t really had any of those, but got close with that 5-gamer. Nats are now 39-35 since April 10 (after that 5-game losing streak). Let’s get back to winning some more series!
Then there's the Cubs who have had two 10-game winning streaks and one 10-game losing streak so far this season. It all adds up to tied with Phillies for top Wild Card. Not sure what that all means....
Nice comment, ranks right there with Mikolas first inning of work.
😂😂😂
I’m surprised it didn’t get taken down.
I wasn’t sure how to feel about his performance, honestly. He settled down so much that part of me wishes the offense could have at least gotten him off the hook (if not a win).
Pretty sophomoric knowing it was out of line but left it anyway.
“Sophomoric?” Now THAT’S a million-dollar word. Haven’t seen it in a sentence since I took the SAT. But it’s the perfect word to use for my initial comment.
Game was all but over after top 6, when Nats had two already in and two in scoring position with one out and, as Mark recounts, couldn’t score another. But there’s always tomorrow — after all, as Scarlett often said, tomorrow is another day…And it could be worse: Os — who recall were supposed to at least sniff a Wild Card — with another bad loss, 8-2 to the Pale Hose, with another brutal error by Blaze Alexander at third….
Am starting to think that maybe our bullpen issues is more the guys are mentally not prepared for loud, high stakes environments. They seem to perform perfectly fine when not in a high leverage situation, seems the loud playoff crowds are not something they’re accustomed to
Tonight’s game was ruined by the starting pitcher though.
Mikolas is so bad man. That’s all I’ll say pitchign wise.
Hitting wise, I knew we were gonna struggle against Ranger Suarez, but holy lord that constantly expanding zone the home plate umpire was giving us was angering.
We’ll do better tomorrow hopefully.
The first inning was awful, but of the six runs, one was a 338 foot fly ball hr over the monster, an out in every other park. And one was a sac fly after Mead whiffed a tag on a SB of third after a great throw by Ruiz. So really should have been 4 runs in 7 innings, a decent outing.
That’s about his regular ERA (5 - 6). One of the worst in the majors and along the lines of what we have been dealing with Corbin, Parker, and Irvin the past several years.
Mikolas pitched 7 innings and saved the Bullpen
As Mikolas himself said, "I didn’t tail and run", and that is important, as a fresh BP may be key to winning this series.
Nats specialize in picking up pitchers like Mikolas off the scrap heap in the offseason. So, every 5th game, Nats spot our opponent a much better than even chance to win that game. Over the course of the season, these uncompetitive starts dig a big hole. Butera and his coaching staff haven’t been able to work their magic on these pitchers like they have on our hitters. Plus, the best chances to replace Mikolas and other bad starting pitchers (Sykora, Gray, Herz, Williams) aren’t saving us this season.
Totally agree. I am puzzled by all the happy talk about Mikolas's performance. After the first inning I could not watch any longer and I switched to watching my other team, the Brewers. Great to watch a team with good pitching and defense. I figured if he gave up so many runs in the first inning, it wasn't going to get much better, and I was right. I have little confidence in him.
Mikolas may have 'saved the BP' as they say, but that's because he was so bad they essentially conceded the game and didn't need to waste any more pitchers in a losing cause. He saved the BP, but the cost was, at least for me, an unwatchable game.
He is there to eat innings which he did do. The youmger SP aren't ready to go 6 or 7 consistently.
Would you have rather yanked him after the first and use 4 RPs afterwards? Or would you have used Poulin ( after 2 innings pitching the night before) as the opener and hope Mikolas goes 7 to 8 innings. Or have Cornelio make his Major League debut at Fenway? Or have Cavalli pitch with 3 days rest? Just interested to know what options you have to offer.
Nope. I am not suggesting the problem was due to poor management. I have no problem with Butera. He did the best he could with the poor hand he was dealt. Look, we have bad pitching. There are some days when I need a break from it! I think it is a waste of time to quibble about whom to bring in. I trust Butera knows more than I do about who is rested and who will do better in a given situation. In fact, we doing well to be around .500 given the pitching talent we have. I am sure we would be far below .500 if I were the manager!
I don't know if you have this issue in mind, but it is Toboni who put this roster together. It surprises me a bit that the press isn't questioning him more about his off-season moves (including trades).
They have and they are . Spencer & Kyle Williams wrote articles in today’s Athletic and Baltimore Banner respectively about his thoughts about the trade deadline. Spencer and the Baltimore Banner wrote extensively about Toboni’s offseason trades.
Thanks for the hesds-up. I'll check it out.
Agreed - I knew and probably just about everyone on this site knew that Mikolas has been one of the worst pitchers in the majors the past several seasons. He has in many ways been better than expected this season, but is a major drag on the team. But certainly not the only one.
Right. You know, though, this has been a great season to date. We have differing views on Toboni's trades but not on this season. It has been a blast. I still see us finishing somewhere in the neighborhood of .500. Hope so, in all events.
Agree - the game was practically lost early in the first inning. No moral victories because he was able to pitch much of the game. He is paid to do so and as a veteran should be able to be ready to pitch competitively when it’s his turn to pitch.
Red Sox on a high from sweeping the Yankees. Will their euphoria last this entire series with the Nats?
Sure looks like they are much better than their record.
This is the game that illustrates everything dysfunctional with this team and Mikolas is just another AWFUL Free Agent Pitcher this team has been so good at finding over the years
Actually the cadre of 3 veteran SP isn't bad at all. Nice pick ups. Its why the are .500.
This game felt like it was over after the first inning. Can’t spot a team 6 runs when they have a good pitching staff.
This is where I always disagree with the idea the game is over early in baseball. This isn’t the NFL, NBA, NHL or soccer (sorry “futbol” fans!) where time runs out on a come back victory. As Earl Weaver was fond of saying, “You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all.” If one team can score 5 runs in their half of one-out-of-nine innings, so can the other team. Yogi Berra was right: “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” To borrow another line from Anthony Hopkins in “The Edge”: “What one team can do, another can do.” Even if they wait until the 9th inning. There’s no clock to run out. Never throw in the towel in baseball (unless you’re down to Vivas pitching for you!).
I agree with you, from a factual standpoint. I just mean from a morale/momentum standpoint. When he gave up the second homer, groaned. I watched until the last out, but still…
Yep - it was demoralizing.
Maybe not “over” but having a competitive game let alone a winning game against a quality pitcher like Suarez was low probability.
Nats have had only three losing streaks of 3 or more games, consisting of 3, 4 and 5 losses. They have had two 4-game and two 3-game winning streaks this season. Thomas Boswell once wrote a column on winning and losing streaks teams go through in a season, but I remember he was talking about longer streaks than just 4 or 5. I can’t find the article, but it was one of his “part of the baseball season” most teams experience, with the idea that the good teams just put together more of the long winning streaks than the bad. And there are only a few that are long. Nats haven’t really had any of those, but got close with that 5-gamer. Nats are now 39-35 since April 10 (after that 5-game losing streak). Let’s get back to winning some more series!
It is a great game, isn't it? I just love it. And love having baseball in DC.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1986/05/19/in-baseball-3-streaks-and-youre-in/0926a378-84cd-4f08-b82d-89435c76096a/
Thanks! That was it! Totally forgot about Larry Sheets! I miss Boz.
Then there's the Cubs who have had two 10-game winning streaks and one 10-game losing streak so far this season. It all adds up to tied with Phillies for top Wild Card. Not sure what that all means....
My take is they have to use an opener with Mikolas. There really is no way around it. He does much better when another pitcher begins the game.
I tried to construct this post with logic and still avoid being clobbered. And failed. So, I'm going poetic, instead.
"If a frog had wings, he wouldn't kick his butt every time he took off."
"Were ifs and buts candy and nuts, what a Christmas we all would have."
If we had Bennett, Ferrer, and Gore, what a change that would make in our current circumstances. It's and buts can be tough conversation partners.
Do not dwell on the paths untrod,
Or the tangled roads of "what could have been."
For every step on the softer sod
Was shaped by the storms you navigated in.
The ghost of the past is a phantom weight,
Stealing the joy of the bright Today.
You cannot alter the hands of fate,
But you choose how the present will play.
Breathe in the moment, unburden your chest,
For the beautiful "now" is all that is true.
Trust that the journey has led to the best,
And the rest of the story belongs to you.
Exactly! He is running a master class in management. Vision, goals, strategies, reaching people. Top-drawer stuff.