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Hey everyone, I'm back from a winter of hibernation and ready to discuss the 2017 season. Just saw the Nats signed Wieters for 2/21. He's not much of a player, but I think it's a good signing. The Nats needed a catcher and he's a veteran who has postseason experience. He's not necessarily going to move the needle, but I think you want a professional handling that staff and that's what they got
Dude, welcome back! Thought we'd lost you.

If I'm stever, or any other Nats fan, I'm more worried about closer.

How do you feel about the WBC? I'm happy to know some Dodgers have opted out this year. Particularly for pitchers this early in the year, I worry about the potential for overwork. Do average fans really care about this event?
(02-21-2017 01:00 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote: [ -> ]Dude, welcome back! Thought we'd lost you.

If I'm stever, or any other Nats fan, I'm more worried about closer.

How do you feel about the WBC? I'm happy to know some Dodgers have opted out this year. Particularly for pitchers this early in the year, I worry about the potential for overwork. Do average fans really care about this event?

I cancelled my Spring Training trip because of the WBC in mid-march. I don't think its that popular any more.
(02-21-2017 01:00 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote: [ -> ]Dude, welcome back! Thought we'd lost you.

If I'm stever, or any other Nats fan, I'm more worried about closer.

How do you feel about the WBC? I'm happy to know some Dodgers have opted out this year. Particularly for pitchers this early in the year, I worry about the potential for overwork. Do average fans really care about this event?

Can't speak to the popularity among average fans, but I'm a huge fan of it. My dad and I have been going since the first one in 2006. Always easiest for me to whichever round is in Miami (in 2006 it was Orlando). I was actually excited about Cueto pitching for DR, but his dad is sick and he might pull out. It sucks, but Cueto takes so long to get rolling in March that he probably would've sucked anyway. He got blasted in spring training last year and was throwing like 85 before ramping it up when the season started.

As for the Nats, you're right that the pen is going to need work. Luckily for them, their two biggest weak spots (Pen and Bench) are the easiest to fix. There are always quality relievers and solid depth players to be had
I actually think the Nats bench and pen is pretty good. for the bench you have Stephen Drew, Derek Norris now as backup catcher/1b, Adam Lind, Clint Robinson. That's a fairly decent bench. The pen is good as well- it's just the closer slot that is the big problem. Of course, that's the slot that if you don't have it, you are totally screwed(see Giants, San Francisco, 2016).
(02-21-2017 04:04 PM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]I actually think the Nats bench and pen is pretty good. for the bench you have Stephen Drew, Derek Norris now as backup catcher/1b, Adam Lind, Clint Robinson. That's a fairly decent bench. The pen is good as well- it's just the closer slot that is the big problem. Of course, that's the slot that if you don't have it, you are totally screwed(see Giants, San Francisco, 2016).

i actually think the Giants would've won that game if Bochy didn't totally mismanage the inning, but your point is somewhat valid.

Didn't realize that was the current Nats bench. The fangraphs column at the beginning of the month had it as Robinson, Drew, Lobaton, Heisey and Taylor. Forget I said anything
(02-21-2017 07:22 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-21-2017 04:04 PM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]I actually think the Nats bench and pen is pretty good. for the bench you have Stephen Drew, Derek Norris now as backup catcher/1b, Adam Lind, Clint Robinson. That's a fairly decent bench. The pen is good as well- it's just the closer slot that is the big problem. Of course, that's the slot that if you don't have it, you are totally screwed(see Giants, San Francisco, 2016).

i actually think the Giants would've won that game if Bochy didn't totally mismanage the inning, but your point is somewhat valid.

Didn't realize that was the current Nats bench. The fangraphs column at the beginning of the month had it as Robinson, Drew, Lobaton, Heisey and Taylor. Forget I said anything

well, the Nats have signed Lind and now Wieters(pushing Norris to backup) in the last week, which has greatly solidified the bench.

It'll be interesting to see the closer situation. That's the biggest x factor to the Nats season this year IMO. If it's good, the Nats will be really tough to face. If it's rocky, the Nats will be mediocre.
(02-21-2017 10:22 PM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-21-2017 07:22 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-21-2017 04:04 PM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]I actually think the Nats bench and pen is pretty good. for the bench you have Stephen Drew, Derek Norris now as backup catcher/1b, Adam Lind, Clint Robinson. That's a fairly decent bench. The pen is good as well- it's just the closer slot that is the big problem. Of course, that's the slot that if you don't have it, you are totally screwed(see Giants, San Francisco, 2016).

i actually think the Giants would've won that game if Bochy didn't totally mismanage the inning, but your point is somewhat valid.

Didn't realize that was the current Nats bench. The fangraphs column at the beginning of the month had it as Robinson, Drew, Lobaton, Heisey and Taylor. Forget I said anything

well, the Nats have signed Lind and now Wieters(pushing Norris to backup) in the last week, which has greatly solidified the bench.

It'll be interesting to see the closer situation. That's the biggest x factor to the Nats season this year IMO. If it's good, the Nats will be really tough to face. If it's rocky, the Nats will be mediocre.

i don't think they'll be mediocre, but without a strong pen they'll definitely have trouble advancing in the postseason. They almost have to make a move. You can't have a team with this much talent (their top 10 guys stack up against anyone), while having a hole like that. It's almost criminal
(02-22-2017 09:14 AM)flyingswoosh Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-21-2017 10:22 PM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]It'll be interesting to see the closer situation. That's the biggest x factor to the Nats season this year IMO. If it's good, the Nats will be really tough to face. If it's rocky, the Nats will be mediocre.

i don't think they'll be mediocre, but without a strong pen they'll definitely have trouble advancing in the postseason. They almost have to make a move. You can't have a team with this much talent (their top 10 guys stack up against anyone), while having a hole like that. It's almost criminal

The Nats, right now, are built to get TO the postseason. With a quality closer, they'll be built to get THROUGH the postseason.
so should I be giddy that Harper's 1st AB of the year= a homer?
(02-26-2017 11:59 AM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]so should I be giddy that Harper's 1st AB of the year= a homer?

I would recommend not having any emotion this early in spring training. There's one thing I want from the Giants players, and that is health. Otherwise I couldn't care less
(02-26-2017 01:12 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-26-2017 11:59 AM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]so should I be giddy that Harper's 1st AB of the year= a homer?

I would recommend not having any emotion this early in spring training. There's one thing I want from the Giants players, and that is health. Otherwise I couldn't care less

If it was nearly anyone else I'd agree with swoosh. But for Harper, who struggled last year and seems like he really thrives on confidence, if I was stever I'd probably feel like this is a good way to get him in the right frame of mind for the season. Maybe not giddy, but pretty happy.
Nats with a great signing today- picking up Joe Blanton. last 2 years 14-4 with a 2.65 ERA. Nice move for the pen.
(02-28-2017 12:21 PM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]Nats with a great signing today- picking up Joe Blanton. last 2 years 14-4 with a 2.65 ERA. Nice move for the pen.

absolutely agree. Can't believe they got him for $4 million. Not really sure what the rest of baseball was doing, but clearly they were all asleep
um, from the absolutely 100% totally predictable file....

David Wright is hurt.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/02/d...ement.html
(02-28-2017 12:21 PM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]Nats with a great signing today- picking up Joe Blanton. last 2 years 14-4 with a 2.65 ERA. Nice move for the pen.

Just saw this and came here to post but y'all beat me to it. I was kind of baffled the Dodgers didn't go after him. Some folks just remember a couple of bad patches during the post season but the guy was nails all year long. You're gonna love this guy.
(02-28-2017 12:49 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-28-2017 12:21 PM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]Nats with a great signing today- picking up Joe Blanton. last 2 years 14-4 with a 2.65 ERA. Nice move for the pen.

Just saw this and came here to post but y'all beat me to it. I was kind of baffled the Dodgers didn't go after him. Some folks just remember a couple of bad patches during the post season but the guy was nails all year long. You're gonna love this guy.

yeah this made no sense for the Dodgers
(02-28-2017 12:45 PM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]um, from the absolutely 100% totally predictable file....

David Wright is hurt.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/02/d...ement.html

i love the 'predictable file' posts
(03-02-2017 10:20 AM)flyingswoosh Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-28-2017 12:49 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-28-2017 12:21 PM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]Nats with a great signing today- picking up Joe Blanton. last 2 years 14-4 with a 2.65 ERA. Nice move for the pen.

Just saw this and came here to post but y'all beat me to it. I was kind of baffled the Dodgers didn't go after him. Some folks just remember a couple of bad patches during the post season but the guy was nails all year long. You're gonna love this guy.

yeah this made no sense for the Dodgers

Well, I wouldn't go that far. It's a numbers game. The Dodgers have roster congestion and their depth is crazy. They needed to add a middle/late relief guy and they were looking around while Blanton was still available. They liked Romo about as much or more than Blanton and they got him for less than what the Nats paid for Blanton. Now, whether it pans out or not, we'll see. I'm not sure I would have signed Romo over Blanton but I understand the thought process.
(03-02-2017 11:23 AM)Brookes Owl Wrote: [ -> ]
(03-02-2017 10:20 AM)flyingswoosh Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-28-2017 12:49 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-28-2017 12:21 PM)stever20 Wrote: [ -> ]Nats with a great signing today- picking up Joe Blanton. last 2 years 14-4 with a 2.65 ERA. Nice move for the pen.

Just saw this and came here to post but y'all beat me to it. I was kind of baffled the Dodgers didn't go after him. Some folks just remember a couple of bad patches during the post season but the guy was nails all year long. You're gonna love this guy.

yeah this made no sense for the Dodgers

Well, I wouldn't go that far. It's a numbers game. The Dodgers have roster congestion and their depth is crazy. They needed to add a middle/late relief guy and they were looking around while Blanton was still available. They liked Romo about as much or more than Blanton and they got him for less than what the Nats paid for Blanton. Now, whether it pans out or not, we'll see. I'm not sure I would have signed Romo over Blanton but I understand the thought process.

you're right, "no sense" is a bit hyperbolic, but I really thought they'd sign him. Romo is solid, but he's injury prone and you do not want him pitching to lefties.
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