2021 Washington Nationals: Can We Just Forget 2020?
- Thread starter JimRiceHOFer
- Start date
He hit another one to lead off tonight. That's 16 in June. One more and he ties the single month record for a lefty with a couple guys named Ruth and Bonds
A few Nats notes heading into the final series. Beyond the joy (dread for Sox fans?) of watching Juan Soto, other things that have been interesting to watch as they fight their way into 5th or 6th draft position have been:
1) a couple of deadline trade acquisitions have played well in September - C Keibert Ruiz and CF Lane Thomas. Thomas hits for average and power and basically pushed Victor Robles back down to AAA. Fast and has the tools to play center but has looked awful in the field. Going forward, the beat writers on the Washington Post (Svrluga and Dougherty) do not think he's a regular CF on a contender, but the Robles and Thomas should contest for a starting spot next year. Ruiz has been terrific offensively as well. Between Ruiz and Riley Adams, the C spot looks settled for 2022.
2) Tonight's starter Josh Rogers has been a surprise find. Released by the Os from Norfolk after a second Tommy John and 17 innings, the Nats grabbed him and he earned his shot amid the post-apocalyptic scene that is the Nats rotation post-Scherzer. He's arguably been more consistent than Josiah Gray.
3) Gray, Saturday's starter, started out with a home run allowed streak his first 11 starts in the majors, 9 post-trade. He was getting by results-wise until a 4 start stretch beginning 8/30. Walks are a problem too.
4) We may see Paulo Espino on Sunday. Old career minors soft thrower who has been effective.
5) The bullpen, along with Patrick Corbin who is through for the year, has really come up big in the Nats drive for draft position. Of those who are active, there's a good chance that anyone not named Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey will not break camp with the 2022 Nats. Rainey had a horrid year but was straightened out late in Rochester. Struck out 15 or so in a row between AAA and the his first appearances after a call up. Finnegan was "Handed" the closer role after the trade deadline but hit a pretty rough streak earlier in the month. He seemed to have a problem coming back out after finishing an inning. The only other somewhat consistent good performer is another older arm who has kicked around, mostly in the minors, in Andres Machado. He will often be called on to bail out someone else's mess in the middle innings or be used in the 7th. Mason Thompson has good velocity on his sinker and can be effective with his slider, but has poor command and a high walk rate. He will get a shot next year but with his options he's one of those guys who could start in Rochester.
6) This could be Ryan Zimmerman's last games with the Nats. I thought he'd start tonight against Rodriguez, with Bell in left, but he's not in the lineup. They've played Bell in left to get an extra righty bat into the lineup.
7) You may recognize the SS. Alcides Escobar has hit like it was 2015. There's talk about him being back as a cheap signing either in a backup role or as a starter.
8) Big question marks going forward with the 3rd baseman, Carter Kieboom, and the guy who will likely play 2nd Saturday and Sunday, Luis Garcia. Garcia has shown some power but is allergic to walks. Kieboom has short streaks of production and long enough stretches of nothing that he lost the 3rd base job coming into the season and only started playing regularly after the trade deadline. I'm fuzzy on their option situations.
9) A fun story is the regular left fielder, Yadiel Hernandez. He's a Cuban exile in his 30s who hit well in a bench role and kept hitting after the Schwarber deal. Not much of building block, but a bench bat or, if the Nats go without significant free agents, a potential platoon with Thomas.
10) Schwarber will get a big hand.
Weather is gorgeous. I'm going tonight and tomorrow.
1) a couple of deadline trade acquisitions have played well in September - C Keibert Ruiz and CF Lane Thomas. Thomas hits for average and power and basically pushed Victor Robles back down to AAA. Fast and has the tools to play center but has looked awful in the field. Going forward, the beat writers on the Washington Post (Svrluga and Dougherty) do not think he's a regular CF on a contender, but the Robles and Thomas should contest for a starting spot next year. Ruiz has been terrific offensively as well. Between Ruiz and Riley Adams, the C spot looks settled for 2022.
2) Tonight's starter Josh Rogers has been a surprise find. Released by the Os from Norfolk after a second Tommy John and 17 innings, the Nats grabbed him and he earned his shot amid the post-apocalyptic scene that is the Nats rotation post-Scherzer. He's arguably been more consistent than Josiah Gray.
3) Gray, Saturday's starter, started out with a home run allowed streak his first 11 starts in the majors, 9 post-trade. He was getting by results-wise until a 4 start stretch beginning 8/30. Walks are a problem too.
4) We may see Paulo Espino on Sunday. Old career minors soft thrower who has been effective.
5) The bullpen, along with Patrick Corbin who is through for the year, has really come up big in the Nats drive for draft position. Of those who are active, there's a good chance that anyone not named Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey will not break camp with the 2022 Nats. Rainey had a horrid year but was straightened out late in Rochester. Struck out 15 or so in a row between AAA and the his first appearances after a call up. Finnegan was "Handed" the closer role after the trade deadline but hit a pretty rough streak earlier in the month. He seemed to have a problem coming back out after finishing an inning. The only other somewhat consistent good performer is another older arm who has kicked around, mostly in the minors, in Andres Machado. He will often be called on to bail out someone else's mess in the middle innings or be used in the 7th. Mason Thompson has good velocity on his sinker and can be effective with his slider, but has poor command and a high walk rate. He will get a shot next year but with his options he's one of those guys who could start in Rochester.
6) This could be Ryan Zimmerman's last games with the Nats. I thought he'd start tonight against Rodriguez, with Bell in left, but he's not in the lineup. They've played Bell in left to get an extra righty bat into the lineup.
7) You may recognize the SS. Alcides Escobar has hit like it was 2015. There's talk about him being back as a cheap signing either in a backup role or as a starter.
8) Big question marks going forward with the 3rd baseman, Carter Kieboom, and the guy who will likely play 2nd Saturday and Sunday, Luis Garcia. Garcia has shown some power but is allergic to walks. Kieboom has short streaks of production and long enough stretches of nothing that he lost the 3rd base job coming into the season and only started playing regularly after the trade deadline. I'm fuzzy on their option situations.
9) A fun story is the regular left fielder, Yadiel Hernandez. He's a Cuban exile in his 30s who hit well in a bench role and kept hitting after the Schwarber deal. Not much of building block, but a bench bat or, if the Nats go without significant free agents, a potential platoon with Thomas.
10) Schwarber will get a big hand.
Weather is gorgeous. I'm going tonight and tomorrow.