"This team needs to learn how to sweep series wins" is what I believe the kids call a "first world problem" and a far cry from the kinds of issues we were discussing 2-3 months ago :)
Just like "we need to learn how to win at home", they will figure it out.
Sucks that they just cannot find a way to sweep. Pitching needs to get it together.
But I’m more irritated with the umpiring this game. That Crews tag out call decided this game. And Bill Miller needs to retire already. That was so awful.
Two from three is good. Solo homers ok, but not nearly one an inning. A real stretch to say likely wrong call on Crews was decisive given Nats trailed by 4 at the time. 39-36 far better than expected and as long as it lasts I intend to enjoy it to the fullest.
I think the highest praise I can offer is that in previous (post-2019) years, checking in and finding out that the other team has a 6-0 lead would have immediately led to me calling it a day. Now, my first reaction is, "with this offense, that's not impossible." I would still prefer that we have better pitching, but it's nice not to assume immediate disaster.
I’ll take a 4-2 homestand in which they won 4 in a row. Not sure how much better you thought they should play. But personally, I’ll take that every single homestand.
Glad to see Butera say that every game matters, but not much chance with Littell and Parker, unless the offense was clicking. Too bad to not take advantage of this opponent with a real challenge awaiting next series.
Mr Doom and Gloom is back . Now the " Junky Boys" are being blamed for a curse ( he means The Sports Junkies of course ). They won the series CB, try not to jump out a window
Feels like when Herz is back, Parker will be the odd one out, with either Herz or Alvarez taking the lefty bulk assignments. Need to try to find ways to upgrade the bullpen if we're going to keep this team in contention, if I had it my way they'd start trying Perales out of the bullpen sooner than later.
I think we are coming up upon a new marker. When the Nats can sweep maybe 30% - 55% of the 3rd game in a 3 game series, instead of less than 10% , we will see another 8 - 12 CURLY Ws. But, man, sweeping a series is apparently quite difficult when playing another MLB team. The Braves and Dodgers only have 3 on the year and lead the league in sweeps.
I get not giving up on a player too early, and Toboni and Butera were certainly correct to do so with both Mikolas and Littell during the first month of the season. But I'm not sure any length of runway is going to fix Mitchell Parker.
Not saying you’re wrong, but that’s what everyone was saying about Littell and Mikolas in April. For the first 7 games he pitched in relief, he had a 3.38 ERA. In the 11 outings since, he’s had only 2 shutout appearances (one was 3 innings with no runs), but mostly gave up more than a run an inning. So, the question is, what changed? Why was he so successful early on and now isn’t? My guess is the pitching staff thinks they have an idea they can fix him. That or they really don’t have viable options they’re comfortable bringing up to replace him. All I know is, from my armchair, there are smarter baseball coaches on the Nats than me, and I have to think they see the same results as we do, so there must be a good reason he’s still here.
If the boys had swept the series it would’ve put them 5 games over .500 - next series is 3 games, if they swept that it would’ve been 8 games over. If went on to sweep the Phillies it’d be 12 games over which starts feeling unsustainable.
If they sweep every remaining series they’d end up 90+ games over and that just ain’t natural. I say we dodged a bullet.
"This team needs to learn how to sweep series wins" is what I believe the kids call a "first world problem" and a far cry from the kinds of issues we were discussing 2-3 months ago :)
Just like "we need to learn how to win at home", they will figure it out.
They at least improved at home during this homestand. They won four on a row at home and ended with 4-2. I’ll take that every homestand.
Sucks that they just cannot find a way to sweep. Pitching needs to get it together.
But I’m more irritated with the umpiring this game. That Crews tag out call decided this game. And Bill Miller needs to retire already. That was so awful.
Two from three is good. Solo homers ok, but not nearly one an inning. A real stretch to say likely wrong call on Crews was decisive given Nats trailed by 4 at the time. 39-36 far better than expected and as long as it lasts I intend to enjoy it to the fullest.
I mean considering how we are offensively it’s not much of a stretch.
Umpiring the entire series was quite laughable how bad it was.
Series at Tampa will be a test. Rays just scored 4 off Ohtani in the fifth to reverse a 2-0 deficit with quality AB after quality AB..
Too bad about no sweep, but hard to be too mad. Some numbers:
Crews — .567 OPS (‘26) .622 career; Nunez — .579 OPS ‘(26) .617 career; Young — .679 OPS (‘26), .637 career.
Nice to see Young breasking out.
Lets get Jake back and give Zack time off
Time for Triple AAA for MP to improve his craft
NN is a pleasant surprise as is CM.. and the rejuvenated Ruiz,,,,
Littell provided a gutsy 5 IP, but not enough or ideal for a trending upward team. I wouldn't have said anything in the past 5 seasons.
I think the highest praise I can offer is that in previous (post-2019) years, checking in and finding out that the other team has a 6-0 lead would have immediately led to me calling it a day. Now, my first reaction is, "with this offense, that's not impossible." I would still prefer that we have better pitching, but it's nice not to assume immediate disaster.
Yep, the offense is very good this yr.
There is a Curse on DAY GAMES and once again Toboni is on the Junky BOYS SHOW and they come out and crap all over the place
I’ll take a 4-2 homestand in which they won 4 in a row. Not sure how much better you thought they should play. But personally, I’ll take that every single homestand.
Glad to see Butera say that every game matters, but not much chance with Littell and Parker, unless the offense was clicking. Too bad to not take advantage of this opponent with a real challenge awaiting next series.
Mr Doom and Gloom is back . Now the " Junky Boys" are being blamed for a curse ( he means The Sports Junkies of course ). They won the series CB, try not to jump out a window
Feels like when Herz is back, Parker will be the odd one out, with either Herz or Alvarez taking the lefty bulk assignments. Need to try to find ways to upgrade the bullpen if we're going to keep this team in contention, if I had it my way they'd start trying Perales out of the bullpen sooner than later.
It boggles my mind that we are butthurt about winning series, but not sweeping. I mean, who are we now?
Crazy, isn't it?
I think we are coming up upon a new marker. When the Nats can sweep maybe 30% - 55% of the 3rd game in a 3 game series, instead of less than 10% , we will see another 8 - 12 CURLY Ws. But, man, sweeping a series is apparently quite difficult when playing another MLB team. The Braves and Dodgers only have 3 on the year and lead the league in sweeps.
That is fantastic info for context.
Thank you!
I’m on vacay so no telly for me just the write ups.
MParker pitched how many times did they bunt him?
Just once. 😂
Scored a run though.
I get not giving up on a player too early, and Toboni and Butera were certainly correct to do so with both Mikolas and Littell during the first month of the season. But I'm not sure any length of runway is going to fix Mitchell Parker.
Not saying you’re wrong, but that’s what everyone was saying about Littell and Mikolas in April. For the first 7 games he pitched in relief, he had a 3.38 ERA. In the 11 outings since, he’s had only 2 shutout appearances (one was 3 innings with no runs), but mostly gave up more than a run an inning. So, the question is, what changed? Why was he so successful early on and now isn’t? My guess is the pitching staff thinks they have an idea they can fix him. That or they really don’t have viable options they’re comfortable bringing up to replace him. All I know is, from my armchair, there are smarter baseball coaches on the Nats than me, and I have to think they see the same results as we do, so there must be a good reason he’s still here.
We bear witness to the Process
If the boys had swept the series it would’ve put them 5 games over .500 - next series is 3 games, if they swept that it would’ve been 8 games over. If went on to sweep the Phillies it’d be 12 games over which starts feeling unsustainable.
If they sweep every remaining series they’d end up 90+ games over and that just ain’t natural. I say we dodged a bullet.
But 2 out of 3 until the end of the season gets us a far more reasonable 97 wins! I’m with you!