Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=ArtMonkDrillz;1087500]so I was at both, or should I say all three, Nats games this weekend and I have to say that this is the lowest I've ever felt as a sports fan. I know the series/season technically isn't over but I feel like this whole city is so cursed the it doesn't matter. f'ing misery.[/quote]

This. I hope we'll take one tonight just so we don't get swept, but I don't see us taking 3 in a row to advance.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

Nats need to move Ryan Zimmerman in the offseason. cant believe that stupid contract you gave that guy him.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=BaltimoreSkins;1087549]Buck yeah![/quote]

Gotta tell you, not looking forward to playing the red hot KC Royals. With that being said, it should be a very interesting showdown as both bullpens have been lights out.

As for the Nats, they just have ZERO clutch hitting. I watched the entire game the other night and just felt sorry for them. Brutal.

Would be nice to steal one game in SF, but outlook is not good.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

Agree looking forward to this series our bullpen gets a lot more press than theirs but they are stellar. I hope Caleb gets his sh!t together at the plate because we need him behind the plate.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

Clayton Kershaw is quickly becoming the MLB version of Peyton Manning. Lights out in the regular season and not too hot in the playoffs.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

Well when you have Laroach, Werth and a guy making a ton of money sitting on the bench (Zimmerman) as your primary middle-of-the line up guys you will never win in the playoffs. Nats fan need to be rooting for a trade of Zim and Laroach, they suck ass

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

The Nats bats have never been scary. It is quite a surprise for some of the players they have.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

I think one thing stood out to me so far in the baseball playoffs, coaching. Orioles, Giants and Cardinals severely outcoached their opponents. Don Mattingly shouldnt be coaching the Dodgers, sorry. He wont last through next season. That job is too big for him and too many egos in the clubhouse, FO and the ownership.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=Chico23231;1088589]I think one thing stood out to me so far in the baseball playoffs, coaching. Orioles, Giants and Cardinals severely outcoached their opponents. Don Mattingly shouldnt be coaching the Dodgers, sorry. He wont last through next season. That job is too big for him and too many egos in the clubhouse, FO and the ownership.[/quote]

When he let Kershaw hit in the 7th I was surprised, I get that he was pitching lights out but when you have a chance to tack on another run instead of getting an out you need to go for it.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=BaltimoreSkins;1088593]When he let Kershaw hit in the 7th I was surprised, I get that he was pitching lights out but when you have a chance to tack on another run instead of getting an out you need to go for it.[/quote]

Donny Baseball should have headcoached somewhere else before NY, LA or Boston. You need experience before those jobs.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzbTYGQIUAAMClT.jpg:large[/IMG]

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=Chico23231;1088586]Well when you have Laroach, Werth and a guy making a ton of money sitting on the bench (Zimmerman) as your primary middle-of-the line up guys you will never win in the playoffs. Nats fan need to be rooting for a trade of Zim and Laroach, they suck ass[/quote]

I think LaRoche is gone this offseason, both him and Werth were nonexistant this series (pretty much everyone not named Harper or Rendon were too). Zimmerman will probably slide over to first next year so he can stay in the everyday lineup. Talk about a lack of hitting, they made Peavy/Hudson/Vogelsong look like Scherzer/Verlander/Price. Can't understand how your entire lineup (minus 2) goes into a slump at the start of the playoffs.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=mooby;1088598]I think LaRoche is gone this offseason, both him and Werth were nonexistant this series (pretty much everyone not named Harper or Rendon were too). Zimmerman will probably slide over to first next year so he can stay in the everyday lineup. Talk about a lack of hitting, they made Peavy/Hudson/Vogelsong look like Scherzer/Verlander/Price. Can't understand how your entire lineup (minus 2) goes into a slump at the start of the playoffs.[/quote]

Hudson and Vogelsong were terrible the second half. Hudson was one of the worst starting pitcher in the league the last 2 months. There is no excuse, Williams got outcoached big time.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=Chico23231;1088599]Hudson and Vogelsong were terrible the second half. Hudson was one of the worst starting pitcher in the league the last 2 months. There is no excuse, Williams got outcoached big time.[/quote]

Honestly, I think again, for the 3rd year in a row now, the Nationals were way overhyped. Maybe not overrated, but pretty close. You can look great beating up on the weak NL East down the stretch but against seasoned playoff teams like SF or StL you're going to run into trouble. How many errors, mental mistakes did the Nats make vs. the Giants? How many composure breakdowns, etc. How many guys like LaRoche and Werth who are veterans, again failed to deliver?

I'm hoping the Nats don't spiral into the pattern of death the Redskins and Capitals are in. The Wizards the jury is still out on. They won one playoff series over a banged up Bulls team and suddenly they're a conference contender...uh huh. But the Redskins and Caps have failure in the blood, in the DNA.

The Nats are still young enough to hopefully avoid that, but this is three straight years now of disappointment. Great regular seasons but playoff chokes. Just like the Caps of 2008-2012 or whatever. Sounds exactly like the Nats. Young, talented, bright future, winning division titles, being the favorite, and failing to get out of the first round of the playoffs.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

Yeah I dont know about loser DNA or that stuff, but Nats and Wiz have good young talent. I think the best is yet to come. With the Nats, the concerns are the dumb contracts and a good number of young guys coming due. I think you need to move Werth or Zim...get Stras, Rendon, Ramos, and Bryce secured into long term deals. Ian Desmond and Fister need to stick around too. Gio is locked up which is good.

RFK you sound a lil like Czaben.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

The Nationals, like the Caps, have basically rendered their regular season meaningless for me. I don't care what they do from April-September. I just want to see them do something next October

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

nats have a solid group.

amazing SP and they have legit MLB bats.

the undoing was the bullpen and lack of timely hitting. this team will grow together and figure it out. youd think w laroche, werth and zimm they would already have a vet presence and ready to produce in the postseason though ..

i hope nats fans can cheer for the Os. i know a lot of Os fans were pulling for the nats.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=over the mountain;1088615]nats have a solid group.

amazing SP and they have legit MLB bats.

the undoing was the bullpen and lack of timely hitting. this team will grow together and figure it out. youd think w laroche, werth and zimm they would already have a vet presence and ready to produce in the postseason though ..

i hope nats fans can cheer for the Os. i know a lot of Os fans were pulling for the nats.[/quote]

I'll be rooting for the O's. My here-on-out rooting interests look like:

>O's
>Royals
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>meteor
>
>
>
>Giants
>Cardinals

I know most Nats fans probably hate the Giants more than the Cards right now, but I despise the Cards. Even Giants fans that were talking shit can't make me hate them as much as I hate the Cards.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=RFKRat;1088609]Honestly, I think again, for the 3rd year in a row now, the Nationals were way overhyped. Maybe not overrated, but pretty close. You can look great beating up on the weak NL East down the stretch but against seasoned playoff teams like SF or StL you're going to run into trouble. How many errors, mental mistakes did the Nats make vs. the Giants? How many composure breakdowns, etc. How many guys like LaRoche and Werth who are veterans, again failed to deliver?

I'm hoping the Nats don't spiral into the pattern of death the Redskins and Capitals are in. The Wizards the jury is still out on. They won one playoff series over a banged up Bulls team and suddenly they're a conference contender...uh huh. But the Redskins and Caps have failure in the blood, in the DNA.

The Nats are still young enough to hopefully avoid that, but this is three straight years now of disappointment. Great regular seasons but playoff chokes. Just like the Caps of 2008-2012 or whatever. Sounds exactly like the Nats. Young, talented, bright future, winning division titles, being the favorite, and failing to get out of the first round of the playoffs.[/quote]

It is hard to say they were overhyped. While the MLB schedule is division heavy, the Nats were solid against some very quality teams. I think much like the Cincinnati Reds of the last 5 years or so they put together great regular seasons but just don't have the pieces for the playoffs. I would even put the current Pittsburgh Pirates roster in that conversation too.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

heading home now .. the city better be rocking.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

I'm an O's fan before I am a Nats fan since I grew up on O's baseball and then the Nats got their home team. (I really really love both teams though)

I rarely ever want to see Baltimore be better than Washington at anything, but in this case, I'll be thrilled to see the Orioles in the WS.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

I'm pulling for the O's but hard to root against the royals.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

The O's are breaking my heart. Bud Norris and Darren O Day (and I f'ing love O Day), have several seats.

The hitters are doing all they can to keep them in the game but the pitchers and the bullpen have absolutely blown and last night the O's went through every single reliever except Brach.

Meh.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

Sucks for the O's. They need to invest in a no 1 starter, team is solid everywhere else

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

Well that weekend in Baltimore was depressing. If the O's win one game this series I hope it is the one Guthrie is starting.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

Well, now that Matt Williams has learned that there is regular season baseball strategy and playoff game strategy, will he make any decision changes next season or will he stick to the same old script, "We did it that way all season long..."? Just call me a sore loser, but really, Williams needs to take some lessons from Buck Showalter, the Baltimore Orioles' manager. In the third game against Detroit, in the 9th inning with one out, Buck walked to the pitcher's mound and didn't summon for another reliever, he just said, "Okay, I want you to walk this guy you're facing and put him on first (and yeah, I know it's putting the winning run on base and smart baseball strategy tells you to never do that, but this is the playoffs), and then the next batter will hit into a double play and we can go home." The pitcher nodded to his manager, walked the guy at the plate, and then the next batter, as Buck had predicted, hit into a game-ending double play! The Orioles beat the Tigers 3 games to none in their playoff series! Now that's what I want Williams to do when he's faced with some hard decisions in the playoffs. Actually, I'd rather he go somewhere else to manage.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

And how come Jason Werth wouldn't talk to the press? Not that he had anything to say, but he could at least say something to give us hope.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=JLee9718;1089490]Well, now that Matt Williams has learned that there is regular season baseball strategy and playoff game strategy, will he make any decision changes next season or will he stick to the same old script, "We did it that way all season long..."? Just call me a sore loser, but really, Williams needs to take some lessons from Buck Showalter, the Baltimore Orioles' manager. In the third game against Detroit, in the 9th inning with one out, Buck walked to the pitcher's mound and didn't summon for another reliever, he just said, "Okay, I want you to walk this guy you're facing and put him on first (and yeah, I know it's putting the winning run on base and smart baseball strategy tells you to never do that, but this is the playoffs), and then the next batter will hit into a double play and we can go home." The pitcher nodded to his manager, walked the guy at the plate, and then the next batter, as Buck had predicted, hit into a game-ending double play! The Orioles beat the Tigers 3 games to none in their playoff series! Now that's what I want Williams to do when he's faced with some hard decisions in the playoffs. Actually, I'd rather he go somewhere else to manage.[/quote]

Buck has continued to make quality decisions in the ALCS too bad the players are no longer executing properly.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

you knew that 3rd base was a defensive liability without machado and the error was due to happen.

the Os starting pitching just hasnt been that good through 2 games. the bullpen allowed the winning runs through 2 games. the long ball was falling a little short through 2 games.

going into the KC series, i thought we matched up well and did things just a little bit better than KC but through 2 games, they've been the slightly better and more fortunate team. KC has had 2 run scoring bloopers in 2 games.

Os have to get it back to 2-2.

lets go Os.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=over the mountain;1089581]you knew that 3rd base was a defensive liability without machado and the error was due to happen.

the Os starting pitching just hasnt been that good through 2 games. the bullpen allowed the winning runs through 2 games. the long ball was falling a little short through 2 games.

going into the KC series, i thought we matched up well and did things just a little bit better than KC but through 2 games, they've been the slightly better and more fortunate team. KC has had 2 run scoring bloopers in 2 games.

Os have to get it back to 2-2.

lets go Os.[/quote]

Buck let Gutherie go for a reason. Hopefully tonight we see why.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=BaltimoreSkins;1089582]Buck let Gutherie go for a reason. Hopefully tonight we see why.[/quote]

yeah, i loved guthrie when he was here. at that time, he was a decent pitcher surrounded by the brad bergensons of the world.

hopefully guthrie is still prone to elevating his fastball and allowing our guys to get some good swings on the ball.

do they still have bruce chen as well? would love to see that guy tomorrow.

im worried about our current chen. i think his arm is showing fatigue.

im not used to feeling like the Os wont win a series.

real nervous about tonight.

just worried that KC's destiny is stronger than ours.

another late inning blooper by KC to bring in a run will kill me.

f/u: well that just sucks.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

Chen pitched well. Some manufactured runs on dying quails. Gausman has been lights out coming in some tough situations in the playoffs. Game 2 ALDS and Game 3 ALCS dude must have ice water in his veins.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

tough game.

we are coming up just a bit short in every department.

tip your cap to the royals. theyre the better team in this series.

playing monday quarterback - a true no. 1 pitcher would have been nice. i like tillman but he is inconsistent and every couple games will have a bad one.

unfortunately for us, his bad game was game 1 of the ALCS. but if he didnt have a bad game in game 1, he would have in game 6 so ...... i would like a true no. 1 ..... but we gave no.1 money to jimenez who isnt even on the ALCS roster but will be on the books for 3 more years .... yesh.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

Surprised Baltimore offense was no where to be found this series

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

So O's and Nat's wont get to the World Series after going into the playoffs with expectations one at least would.

Whats the problem with both teams? I think the coaching on both sides is legit.

The Orioles need to lock up Cruz and they need to find a two starters. I knew that Chris Davis contract was a bad idea, FO couldnt help themselves but he can still bounce back. I hope that wont stop them from locking up Cruz. How are they gonna handle the disappointment which is Matt Wieters? He needs to stay healthy and produce period.

The Nats have less problems in my opinion. I think they need to find a leader in the bullpen, couple of those guys who are suppose to be the top arms couldnt handle pressure playoff situations. Ive kept repeating this from day one, Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth and Laroche are not the answer at 3-4-5 in the line up. The FO made terrible decisions in those contracts. Nats pitching is tops in the league and they have outstanding young talent with Rendon, Bryce, Ramos, Desmond and I hope they keep Asdrubal Cabrera around. Span does a good job as well, but you could get more at the top of the order.

The future is bright for both, but there need to be some obvious changes.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

Our bats were mostly silent in the whole series against the Giants, so it starts there. I don't see major lineup changes coming for the Nats, I think Zimmerman moves to first and idk whether we bring back Cabrera (I think I would given the lack of replacement options). Sucks for the O's, I didn't have a horse in this fight but I'll be rooting for the Royals to beat the Cards or Giants.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=Chico23231;1089707]So O's and Nat's wont get to the World Series after going into the playoffs with expectations one at least would.

Whats the problem with both teams? I think the coaching on both sides is legit.

The Orioles need to lock up Cruz and they need to find a two starters. I knew that Chris Davis contract was a bad idea, FO couldnt help themselves but he can still bounce back. I hope that wont stop them from locking up Cruz. How are they gonna handle the disappointment which is Matt Wieters? He needs to stay healthy and produce period.



The future is bright for both, but there need to be some obvious changes.[/quote]

the Os didnt sign Davis to a huge long term deal. He is on arbitration. his arb number should be manageable given his disappointing 2014 campaign.

cruz is good but his legs are going, so he is starting his decline. everyone is saying it will take a 4 year deal, but will he take DH money instead of RF money?

weiters is not a disappointment. this was his first injury. he is one of the best defensive catchers in the league. his bat was doing very well before the injury. some speculate that his pitch calling isnt as great as thought bc the joseph/hundley duo did very well with our starters.

no weiters and machado was the difference against KC. hundley wasnt tested but he has a throw out rate of 15%. both put up paltry hitting numbers. joseph's error yesterday would not have been made by weiters.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=over the mountain;1089730]the Os didnt sign Davis to a huge long term deal. He is on arbitration. his arb number should be manageable given his disappointing 2014 campaign.

cruz is good but his legs are going, so he is starting his decline. everyone is saying it will take a 4 year deal, but will he take DH money instead of RF money?

weiters is not a disappointment. this was his first injury. he is one of the best defensive catchers in the league. his bat was doing very well before the injury. some speculate that his pitch calling isnt as great as thought bc the joseph/hundley duo did very well with our starters.

no weiters and machado was the difference against KC. hundley wasnt tested but he has a throw out rate of 15%. both put up paltry hitting numbers. joseph's error yesterday would not have been made by weiters.[/quote]

With all the hype, Wieters has been a disappointment...I thought they got a deal done with Davis...my bad. Cruz easily was the reason the O's won the east, I wouldnt break the bank but he was the difference maker. Machado needs to stay healthy, he could be great

So your good with the starting pitching? hmmm, i think its suspect.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

[quote=Chico23231;1089733]With all the hype, Wieters has been a disappointment...I thought they got a deal done with Davis...my bad. Cruz easily was the reason the O's won the east, I wouldnt break the bank but he was the difference maker. Machado needs to stay healthy, he could be great

So your good with the starting pitching? hmmm, i think its suspect.[/quote]

Here is my off season wish list: Bull Pen, I don't want them to throw money around for a No. 1 starter the current trend is teams over paying for their services. I think Gausman is going to be the guy next year for our no. 1. We need a quality infielder that can play 3rd base and spell Schoop at second in short I don't trust Manny to stay healthy. First base I am cool with giving Davis the spot and letting him hit 7th. Cruz is tough because we also have Miller and Markakis as free agents. Markakis is the better all around ball player but Cruz at the plate is great, but for how long? He is 34 and will be 35 most of next year. Miller is going to be offered closer money after his playoff performance.

Re: MLB 2014 Season
 

SP - im not okay with not having a ace, i just dont see us adding one given our approach to stay away from expensive pitchers and our maxed out salary. we kinda screwed ourselves with thinking Ubaldo was going to be our true no 1 with that 4 yr 50 mil contract. only 3 more years to go.

angelos broke his rule of offering a pitcher more than a 3 year deal and it has come back to bite us. i doubt he will offer another hefty contract to any SP this offseason. he just doesnt believe in paying pitchers.

orioles execs are "anonymous source" saying the Os are going to keep building the team with the goal of a WS ... but the Os payroll this year was 111 mil which is 11 mil more than angelos usually allows so i highly doubt they exceed 111 mil next year (despite PR machine already out spreading hope).

gausman is suspect to me. i dont see ace stuff from him. he can become the Os best pitcher, but i dont see him as an ace.

bundy should get a long good look next year and hopefully he will live up to the hype.

weiters - i just dont see him as a bust. he is a gold glove catcher with defensive metrics through the roof. the only disappointment was that he was supposed to swing a 30 hr bat. this season his hitting really came around (which wasnt all that bad to begin with).