Moore called out although replays show he was safe (via DC Sports Bog)
This was a big weekend for the Nationals. After winning six straight (by sweeping the Red Soxs and Blue Jays), the weekend series with the New York Yankees (who were also riding a six game winning streak entering the series) were going to be a test for both first place teams. The Nationals didn’t finish with their desired result, getting swept in the three games by the New York Yankees and losing 4-1 today.
It’s not that the Nationals didn’t play competitive or at a lower level than they had previously. Despite each of the weekend starters not giving up many runs, the offense was unable to score runners or to take advantage of opportunities. There was also defensive miscues and poor reliever performances that also contributed to the losses. (Granted a missed call did factor into Saturday’s game, costing the Nationals the win and turning the game into an extra innings marathon.)
Plus, there’s the added worry of Ryan Zimmerman‘s prolonged offensive slump. The third baseman is now hitting .229 and went 0-13 with two strikeouts, one walk and no RBIs in the weekend series. (Davey just wants to get Zim in “a happy place.”)
What’s the fun in playing with a full roster? That’s what the baseball gods must be saying to the Nationals, who lost ANOTHER key player in Wilson Ramos to an ACL injury.
At this point, the Nats should just buy their own rehabilitation center in bus form at the rate everyone is getting injured. It could be so many things (luck, training) but I prefer to think of it as sabotage at the hands of the Phillies and their sidekick Orioles (let’s kick up these rivalries!).
The Nats are now missing Jayson Werth, Michael Morse, and Ramos, all keys at the plate. Pitchers Drew Storen, Brad Lidge, and Chien-Ming Wang are also injured. Have you all heard of this fun thing called stretching? Geez!
The kind of good news is that the Nats are still doing well. Despite the injuries and the losses, the team continues to exceed expectations in the early months of the season. The pitching has remained strong, playing a huge role in not missing a medical beat.
The Nats will look to snap a 4 game losing streak today as they kick off a homestand against the DiamondBacks and Phillies. After a day off yesterday, the Nats are seeing a lack of offense finally catching up to them on the scoreboard. Here’s what you need to know.
-From us, the Nats losing streak is finally shining a light on the lack of offense this season.
-Closer Brad Lidge is going to have surgery to repair a hernia. Better get used to Rodriguez. [Nats Journal]
-Harper may have already made his major league debut, but he will face a new animal in his home debut today. [Wash Times]
-Here’s a look at how the Harper and Tyler Moore promotions affect the rest of the organization. [Nats Prospects]
-The Nats had a pretty successful April, but what specifically has it told us about this 2012 team so far? [District on Deck]
-The rotation of the outfield has been interesting, and will continue to be so throughout the year with various call-ups.[Nats Review]
Raise your hand if you got really nervous when Drew Storen went down with injury just before the start of the season (raises hand). It was a relief then to know that the Nationals had acquired Brad Lidge. Then he pitched, and, well, it hasn’t exactly been pretty. There was one option left, and it was a terrifying one: Henry Rodriguez.
Everyone has always known he’s had the power. The Nats acquired him as part of the deal for Josh Willingham (that also included Corey Brown). For the last couple of years, his arm has been visibly raw.
Rodriguez could get his speeds up, but it was a crap chute whether or not he would get it near the strike zone. It was more of the same with his other pitches: the potential was there, but control problems prevented him from being able to break through.
Whatever Rodriguez did over the winter worked. He returned for 2012 with a new calmness and control over his arm that has made him a great closer early in the season. Batters are hitting .038 against him and he has yet to give up an earned run.
-Zimmermann has been getting the sour end of the run support lollipop dating back to last season. Just terrible luck for a guy who’s been throwing so well. [Federal Baseball]
-Chien-Ming Wang is making his way back, most recently with a simulated game. [CSN Washington]
Well, that offense was fun while it lasted. The Nats lost 3-1 to the Marlins yesterday, but possibly more concerning is a potential injury to Rick Ankiel. Nats outfielders are already going down like flies, and it could get dicey if more are out. Here’s what you need to know.
-First, from us:
The Nats have organized their second annual Wounded Warrior Amputee Celebrity Softball Classic for next week after an exhibition with the Red Sox. Check out all the details (including celebrity roster) here.
As we were discussing above, it may get interesting in the Nats outfield to start the season.
-To prepare for this potential day of outfield weirdness (or any other opportunities) Johnson is going to be giving Lombardozzi a lot of work to get him adjusted to a major league level and improve his versatility. [Wash Times]
-The Nats appear to be in good hands with Brad Lidge, as do their young relievers who will get to look alongside him this season. [Nats Journal]
-The difference between Jackson starting poorly and Gonzalez starting poorly: Gonzalez makes adjustments and comes back strong before it gets out of hand. Like yesterday. [CSN Washington]
-Apparently the Nats could become ‘part of the family’ with Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler reportedly dating a player in the organization. [Nationals Talk]
-A look at another possible candidate that could help the Nats depth this season. [District on Deck]
-We haven’t talked about Bryce Harper in a while, so here’s some from Mike Rizzo and Davey Johnson. [Federal Baseball]
Within two years, Drew Storen has become the go-to for the Nats in closing situations. He has been steady, consistent, powerful, and until recently, healthy. With some tightness going through his throwing arm, the Nats have to make preparations in case the young ace can’t go.
In the past, Todd Coffey might have filled in, or perhaps even Tyler Clippard. This year, however, the Nats have the privilege of having another talented closer on the roster: Brad Lidge.
Davey Johnson says that it will be either Lidge or Henry Rodriguez (so, yeah, hopefully Lidge). One would think that Clippard would be in the fold as well, but Johnson wants to try to keep him in the position he is best at. From Nats Insider:
They’re baaaaaack! With the return of baseball and Spring Training comes the return of your morning Nats news nuggets. It’s been a long off season, but everyone is back and ready to work, so let’s get right to it!
-It’s the question on everyone’s mind heading into 2012: will the Nationals be a contender this year? They certainly have the potential, but it takes more than that. [CSN Washington]
-Stephen Strasburg appears to be pretty confident about 2012 as well. That’s good news regarding his arm, although he’ll still likely be cut short this year. [Comak]
-Nice little bit of inside-knowledge from Brad Lidge: the Phillies used to assume they’d roll all over the Nats, but know that’s no longer the case. [CSN Washington]
-Remember the high hopes everyone had for Cole Kimball? Well he’s recovering from shoulder surgery, and everything seems to be going according to plan. [Nats Journal]
-Outfielder Mike Cameron retired yesterday morning. It was thought that he would be part of a center fielder by committee in 2012, so where should the Nats go from here? [Nats Blog]
-Ian Desmond will be changing his number for 2012 to 20 in order to honor Frank Robinson. [Nats Journal]
-Jim Bowden is talking again, this time the former Nats GM is handing out off season grades around the National League. Hint: he likes what the Nats did. [District on Deck]
-Since it is “technically” only pitchers and catchers at this point, here is a look at the arms the Nats brought to Viera. [Federal Baseball]
-Jayson Werth is looking to move on. I think I speak for everyone when I say: Thank God. [Comak]
-Jesus Flores thinks he is a starter’s caliber. Maybe he’s right, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s never going to be that guy as long as Wilson Ramos is in the picture. [Nats Journal]
Well, that offense was fun while it lasted. The Nats lost 3-1 to the Marlins yesterday, but possibly more concerning is a potential injury to Rick Ankiel. Nats outfielders are already going down like flies, and it could get dicey if more are out. Here’s what you need to know.
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