Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

I am not a huge baseball fan but I do watch occasionally. I have caught a few Nats games so far this season and they look horrible.

They have the worst feilding % in baseball, The worst opponent on base % and the second worst ERA. They're not doing too bad at the plate but they leave way to many runners in scoring position. They are the only team not to win a game and I don't see that changing any time soon.

The announcers were making comments like "sometimes the bounces just don't go our way", and "over time these things even out".

Is it just some unlucky bounces or are they really that bad?

And if they are really that bad, how long do you think it will be until they can become consistent winners?

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

The 0-7 start is a bit of a fluke, as they (on paper) have the best team they've had since they've been the Nats. However, while they should be good for 70-72 wins, their pitching and defense is every bit is bad as it looks. They'll come around on offense though.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

I was at the game yesterday and their pitching/defense is completely laughable. I seriously think that the team is holding out hope that Nick Johnson gets injured so that they can move Dunn to 1st and Willingham to left. They also need to get rid of Lastings Milledge because that kid just pure sucks. Oh, and my 12 year old sister can field a grounder better than the guy they had at 2nd yesterday.

And by the way, I'm a pretty big Nats fan.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

[quote=ArtMonkDrillz;545521]I was at the game yesterday and their pitching/defense is completely laughable. I seriously think that the team is holding out hope that Nick Johnson gets injured so that they can move Dunn to 1st and Willingham to left. They also need to get rid of Lastings Milledge because that kid just pure sucks. Oh, and my 12 year old sister can field a grounder better than the guy they had at 2nd yesterday.

And by the way, I'm a pretty big Nats fan.[/quote]I only saw Milledge's last AB in the 9th. He was swinging widly at anything close to the plate. He has no plate dicipline whatsoever. And as for NJ, Its only a matter of time.

I do feel bad for Guzman though, He had one hell of a game yesterday only to come up lame running out a single (should have been a double) in the 9th.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

Ladies and Gentlemen your 2009 Jim Bowden Nationals.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

Jim Bowden is horrible and it's good that he's gone. I'm a huge Braves fan, but i'll pull for the Nat's on other occasions.

The Nat's pitching is horrible. They've got alot of guys that no one else wants. They actually have some offensive talent though. Guzman, Dunn, Johnson and Dukes has some potential. The rest of the lineup is not good though. They need to stockpile some talented arms any way possible. They are going to get the #1 pick this year and try to sign this kid from SD State (i believe) that can throw 100mps +. That's a start.

The problem is they have a new stadium and are trying to draw in a bad economy w/ a bad team. They need to do some serious trading at the trade deadline for some minor league talent. The Nat's fans are just going to have to wait 3 years for a decent team.

#1 pick & Jordan Zimmerman are some glimmers of hope.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

[url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2009/04/milledge_optioned_to_class_aaa.html?wprss=nationalsjournal]Nationals Journal - Milledge Optioned To Class AAA Syracuse[/url]

Lastings is headed back to the Minors. Maybe this can give the team a little spark. It'd be nice to get Willingham and Kerns into the lineup to see if they can add a little more power.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

It also doesn't help that the O's are playing well to start...

The Nats certainly have the firepower to keep them in games, but their pitching is atrocious. They need their young arms to develop quickly. The Nats started slow on defense last year I believe...it's early. Hopefully with Bowden out of the picture, Kasten and Mike Rizzo fix all the problems and right the ship so to speak.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;545891]It also doesn't help that the O's are playing well to start...

The Nats certainly have the firepower to keep them in games, but their pitching is atrocious. They need their young arms to develop quickly. The Nats started slow on defense last year I believe...it's early. Hopefully with Bowden out of the picture, Kasten and Mike Rizzo fix all the problems and right the ship so to speak.[/quote]

How well are the O's doing? I'm too lazy to look.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

[quote=Angry;545893]How well are the O's doing? I'm too lazy to look.[/quote]

I'm a HUGE O's fan. They're 5-2, and tied 3-3 in the 7th inning right now with Texas. Offensively we're very solid. I love the top half of our lineup. And it will get better when Matt Weiters gets called up to replace Zaun in a few months.

The O's big problem this year will be starting rotation for sure. We're definitely an up and coming team.

I love all things DC, but I sure am glad I'm not a big Nats fan. They are woeful.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

[quote=GMScud;545895]I'm a HUGE O's fan. They're 5-2, and tied 3-3 in the 7th inning right now with Texas. Offensively we're very solid. I love the top half of our lineup. And it will get better when Matt Weiters gets called up to replace Zaun in a few months.

The O's big problem this year will be starting rotation for sure. We're definitely an up and coming team.

I love all things DC, but I sure am glad I'm not a big Nats fan. They are woeful.[/quote]

SWEET! I am an O's fan as well, but I stopped following baseball when Cal retired. My wife got me some Nat's player's autograph. I am looking at it now. Who's initials are "TR"?

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

[quote=Angry;545898]SWEET! I am an O's fan as well, but I stopped following baseball when Cal retired. My wife got me some Nat's player's autograph. I am looking at it now. Who's initials are "TR"?[/quote]Tim Redding maybe? He's not in DC anymore but he was the best pitcher on the team last year.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

[quote=ArtMonkDrillz;545901]Tim Redding maybe? He's not in DC anymore but he was the best pitcher on the team last year.[/quote]

That's gotta be it. There are two recognizable d's and a g at the end.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

[quote=Angry;545898]SWEET! I am an O's fan as well, but I stopped following baseball when Cal retired. My wife got me some Nat's player's autograph. I am looking at it now. Who's initials are "TR"?[/quote]

I absolutely love baseball. It was always my favorite sport growing up (with football a close second of course), but I was just a lousy hitter, so my playing days didn't last past my freshman year of high school (come to find out I needed glasses/contacts pretty badly).

It's been pretty miserable being an Orioles fan for the past decade or so, but now that Peter Angelos has finally let someone else call the shots (Andy MacPhail), things are looking up in Baltimore. I cheer for the Nats to do well, but even though they are my hometown's team, I can't just jump ship on my Birds.

Re: Are the Nationals really that bad?
 

[quote=GMScud;545895]I'm a HUGE O's fan. They're 5-2, and tied 3-3 in the 7th inning right now with Texas. Offensively we're very solid. I love the top half of our lineup. And it will get better when Matt Weiters gets called up to replace Zaun in a few months.

The O's big problem this year will be starting rotation for sure. We're definitely an up and coming team...

I absolutely love baseball. It was always my favorite sport growing up (with football a close second of course), but I was just a lousy hitter, so my playing days didn't last past my freshman year of high school (come to find out I needed glasses/contacts pretty badly).[/quote]
Unfortunately for Wieters, a shaky pitching staff means Zaun will be around most of the year, especially if the O's stay in contention.

Considering that their top 2 pitchers are Guthrie (Career W-L record of 19-17) and 34 year old "rookie" Uehara, the O's need to beef up their pitching staff big time. Outcasts Hendrickson and Eaton make up the rest of the staff, with Alfredo Simon getting hurt last night. The bullpen should be decent, especially if Chris Ray can be the go-to guy in the 8th.

I played baseball into my junior year in high school, when being big and slow finally caught up to me. I was a decent pitcher (no starts in HS, but got a few saves), but the thing that kept me around longer than I should have been was being a catcher. If you have kids who love playing baseball, and want to stick with it longer than little league, tell them to get behind the plate. Especially if they have a good arm...