Flailing
There’s a question I’ve asked myself about the Nats and their pitching staff “strategies” over the past 3 years. Would I rather see the team do wrong (in my opinion of course) and succeed, or would I rather see them fail and thus learn from their mistakes? Whatever part of me favors the latter is getting what he wants recently.
Three years of piecing together a starting staff with cast-offs and has-beens, has forced the Nats bullpen to pitch a TON of innings. (2nd in the NL in 2006 in IP by relievers, 1st in 2007, currently 5th in 2008). Keep doing this year after a year and it isn’t a question of if it’ll catch up with the bullpen but when. We seem to have the answer. May 11th. The day they trotted out Luis Ayala, who missed the entire previous season (Ed - note I meant all of 2006 (and part of last season). Sorry. It was late) due to being overworked, for his league leading 23rd appearence, and found out SURPRISE! his stuff isn’t that good when he’s being beaten down like a horse in an animated feature before he’s set free by a precocious youth to roam free in the grasslands. Run Free Ayala! Run Free!
The team has tried to find innings in the bullpen by turning Matt Chico into a reliever. OK, I don’t agree with that but that happens. What doesn’t happen though is immediately breaking him in pitching 2+ innings in back to back games. Can he at least get a feel of pitching from the bullpen? Oh wait, he can’t because the guy brought in to replace him Mike O’Connor pitched so horribly and they needed someone to come in and eat innings. Chico essentially gave the Nats another short start but did it from the middle innings. Mike O’Connor, who did not listen to Eminem and missed his chance to blow in his one shot, has been immediately dropped for bullpen help. Of course who will start in his place next time? Maybe Balester or Bergmann. Or maybe Chico (provided he doesn’t see action in 3 of the next 4 games). Or hell, maybe Jose Rijo.
[It’s strange but all in all this Chico stuff could have made sense. Say you don’t like the way Chico is pitching so you’re giving O’Connor a spot start in his place while the Saint and Chico try to work out some kinks. After that you’re likely to bring in a reliever, and you’ll see if Chico is ready after that. If so great, if not you’ll spot start again. See, a mess sure, but one that feels like a semblance of a plan, not like panicky passengers fleeing a sinking ship.]
We haven’t even talked about the non-existent offense yet.
Yeah the team lost, but more importantly the team’s lost.
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5 Responses to “Flailing”
May 12th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I think you’re a bit too kind, but indeed, this team is flailing, failing, and lost. It’s really sad to see us destroy poor Luis, who could have a heck of a career pitching 55-60 IP a year for a long time.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I’ve been saying it for years … ok, just since I read this article … this team is still hung over from the “lost” years at the end of the Expos, league-owned, home games in Puerto Rico debacle.
May 12th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Steven - don’t forget Gary Majewski and we’re almost certain to break Saul Rivera too. (Rauch survives because his formative years were spent starting) I figure about 1 career ended a year is a good pace.
Bryan - Three years later? Let me have one of those. I can see that - those years did cost the team probably a few good arms and bats lost to bad trades and forgotten drafts. But the management response of “We’ll try when we’re ready and not a moment sooner” is getting real old.
May 12th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I jest. I seriously doubt there’s any hangover this many years out. Unless its just and organizational malaise. Losing attititudes are contagious. I would hope the Lerner’s cleaned that out. Maybe not.
As an aside, Lost is a pretty good show. I mean the TV drama, not the “lost” show the Nats are giving us.
May 12th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
JimBow has to be held accountable for the squad he’s put together–soon.
yesterday though, Manny should have bunted in the ninth, his press conference defense notwithstanding. you can’t ask Zim to bunt in the eighth, but you sure as hell can (and should) ask Wee Willis Harris to bunt in the ninth with Milledge at first. you HAVE to. it’s the only time sac bunting is acceptable.
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