JayB is clearly right on all counts. I don't see any remotely valid argument for saying that we couldn't use at least one more near league-average innings-eater SP.

The rotation now is Perez, Redding, Hill, Lannan, and the black hole of O'Connor, Bergmann, and Chico. What's the argument against using someone else in that 5 hole?

It is extremely unlikely that all four of Perez, Hill, Redding, and Lannan will last the full year in the bigs and give you 200. 3 of these guys have never done it ever, and Odalis hasn't done it in like 5 years. And Hill of course defies all rational expectations every time he throws a pitch and the arm doesn't fall off.

Keep in mind, our terrible pitching comes at a cost--not just losses. As a result of the terrible SPs we had the last 2 years and the merely below average that we have this year (coupled with roster spots wasted on LOOGYs, hurt back-up catchers, hurt Cordero, and Joel Hanrahan), we are destroying some pretty valuable assets in the pen.

First we ruin Majewski, then Ayala gets a TJ, then Cordero suddenly loses 10 mph off the fastball, and now Ayala seems ready for another TJ, and I haven't even mentioned Saul yet. If we're contending 2-3 years down the road, I promise you'll wish we hadn't run these guys into the ground on teams going nowhere.

I just fear that after destroying these arms that we're now going to wreck Ballester, Detwiler, or one of these young guys by rushing them when they aren't ready. That would be a good way to ensure JimBo protects his perfect record of never drafting a winning SP ever.

All of you Bowden haters should look at Baseball America's website!
_________________

Is this what I'm supposed to read? I'm supposed to be impressed that he figured out that a pitcher was hurt when he could suddenly only throw 81 and was saying "my arm hurts really bad."

http://tinyurl.com/6egbxp

The injury bug saves Jim B. from having to make a hard decision once again. How much you want to bet NJ goes on the DL tomorrow?

Don't just google NJ + injury.

google NJ + wrist injury.

He missed an entire season in the minors with some vague soft-tissue injury in his wrist.

By Nick. Hey Dimitri, hustle up!

So who'll win this weekend's Battle of the Beltway?

Will the Nats continue with their little league chants?

2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? Nats, Nats, Gooooo Nats.

We want a pitcher, not a belly itcher.

Has anyone on here ever played MLB '08 The Show? The number of foul balls hit is OUTRAGEOUS!

REPOST:

A couple contentions about how signing "inning eaters" saves a bullpen:

First, does leading the league in appearances directly result in poor performance? If so, explain the productivity of Scot Shields or Paul Quantrill or Salomon Torres or even John Rauch. Each has been among the league leaders in games pitched yet all have had periods of success since the late 90's.

Maybe Ayala, for instance, has other issues like recovering from a blown elbow (where he missed a season and a half - and this happened in the WBC SoCH, not while he was pitching for the Nats) or being shot.

The Nats starters are 19th in MLB in innings/start and 8th in the NL. The real issue is runs per start where the Nats average 4.01 runs per game (26th in MLB). As teams in close games leverage a quality start vs pinch hitting, the need for reliever appearances increases. If a pitcher is due up in the 6th where the team needs offense, Acta is going to PH for him. Washington is 3rd in MLB in PH at bats. Pretty simple.

My point is there isnt definitive proof showing a relation between poor performance and # of appearances AND if the offense would put more runs on the board, the team would be willing & able to keep a starter in through the 6th/7th innings.

The bullpen issue isn't because of the starting pitching. Its because of the anemic offense, especially with RISP.

By the way, the Nats average 5 2/3 innings/starter. Lohse averages 5 2/3 innings a start and Livo 6 1/3 (in the AL where he doesnt bat). Please stop using either of these guys as bullpen savers. Roy Halladay is a bullpen saver. Livo & Lohse are not.

Posted by: Los Doce Ocho | May 14, 2008 7:07 PM

You can't hit a foul ball on 2K8.....and the computer pitcher never throws a ball! But Nick Johnson (sigh) is hitting .571. And alas, Kearns is hitting .218 in the 5 games I have played thus far.

JayB, stop depending on hyperbole. If you've ever seen Nook Logan, Kenny Lofton, or Juan Pierre play, you know that Lasting Milledge could probably break or sprain his throwing arm and still not have the weakest arm in MLB.

Posted by: faNATic | May 14, 2008 6:44 PM

Watch him next time he plays....(finally Manny).....He catches the ball then takes a running start to throw....yes as a result of a 3 step run up he does beat Logan's arm.....not much to be proud of an certainly not a "plus" arm.

By the way, the Nats average 5 2/3 innings/starter.
_________________

If Hill, Perez, Lannan, and Redding all start 30 games averaging 5.66 per game, then I'll eat my Nats hat (the W one, not the interlocking DC one).

The problem this season has been the roster spots wasted on King, hurt Cordero, hurt Estrada, and the completely unreliable Hanrahan and Colome.

Still, that doesn't address the 5th spot, and clearly we'd be better off with Lohse, Silva, etc. in that spot. Even if you believe that unlikely foursome is going to hold up all year, you need a 5th.

Yes, yes, Ayala's arm gave out on the WBC, but he was hurt already, and the docs told him not to pitch. He's the only real casualty of the WBC.

As for the theory that overwork doesn't cause problems for pitchers, well, I think you'll have a good chance to test that theory.

Middle of order is killing us.
Starters not the problem.
Hitting sucks.

It could be worse - Andruw Jones.

SoCH- You've gone from the lack of another starter to roster mismanagement as the cause for the bullpen's performance. Either way, you are stating the guys in the pen are overworked. Prove to me how they are overworked. And will your proof include the number of times other pitchers warm up but dont actually pitch in a game? Does that dictate performance/wear too?

Your concern is pitching depth, correct? The Nats have already cycled through 3 spots in the rotation with only Perez & Redding making every start. And yet the Nats currently have 4 pitchers with below league average ERA's...plus Bergmann, Mock and Clippard with solid recent results in AAA.

So Livo or Lohse or whomever would provide how many win shares above the replacement #5 starter? 1? Is that worth $4-5 mil for a non contending team? I don't see the value personally.

Also, prove to me Ayala was already injured before the WBC, instead of offering speculation. I know all the Nats pitchers were advised not to pitch in the WBC, but that wasnt due to a current injury.

And JayB, outside of your own personal opinion, provide any other source stating Milledge has a weak outfield arm.

I hate losing.

Who knew LoDuca would not hit .290? Not Barry.
Who knew that Pena, Milledge, Kearns, Dukes (?) and Z-mann/Spanky would not hit? Not Barry. He said the 2008 lineup had more pop.
Who should the front office have signed to avoid this? Thank God and JimBow for Aaron F'ing Boone! LAC, JayB, second-guessers all, help me, school me, teach me!

Who died and made LDO King? Prove to me this, prove to me that. Give it a rest, dude. Isn't there a halos blog where you can act imperious and annoy people?

Thanks for the Johnson update. His candid quote was refreshing.

Hope it's not so serious.

And JayB, outside of your own personal opinion, provide any other source stating Milledge has a weak outfield arm.

Posted by: Los Doce Ocho | May 14, 2008 7:48 P
Check Barry's Chat today......or just open your eyes.....Oh and yes Ayala coming off an injury and that is why they did not want him to pitch in the WBC.....but hey don't let facts interrupt your demands....

Call me crazy, but I'm going to take Baseball America's assessment of Milledge's ability over that of an anonymous poster on a fan blog.

As for Livan and Loshe...could we use another starter right now? Probably. But I don't see them giving us any more that Perez has.

Someone mentioned it earlier, but the real reason the bullpen is getting overused is not because our starters can't pitch far enough into games. The problem is that the Nats don't score any runs, so games are always close and the end up lifting the starter early for a pinch-hitter. No amount of crappy fifth starters in the world is going to fix that.

Of course there are LAA blogs...but as I've been a full season ticket holder since the inaugural season, I have a bit invested in the Nats as well.

If you are annoyed by my posts, then I would encourage you to avoid reading them. I only have asked for something more than generalities and idle speculation.

Additionally, as I feel I have countered your recent points on the bullpen quite well, I would welcome a retort other than give it a rest, dude.

Can you believe these guys.....demands for proof of this and proof of that....Take a 4 year old BA reports over 40 games in front of them.....I guess if they do not know the game then they have to depend on someone else....oh that's right they could just trust their hero Barry from today's chat....but not these Nats cool aid drinkers.

ALL of you are driving me crazy with your sniping at each other. It's so stupid how you all just keep trying to change each other's mind over crap that didn't happen or won't happen.

There's a ballgame on, folks, and Redding's pitching awesome.

Damn. That hit was my fault wasn't it?

I think the Nats should sign that guy from Ballston who played with Milledge and Zimmerman, er, against Milledge and with Zimmerman, er, smelled Zimmerman and played a video game that Milledge was in. Or something like that.

In any case, he seems muy macho, and his arguments that he can talk, because he's Played The Game give me shivers.

Who is 5 for 42 with RISP on the Nats?

Nice play Zim. Now THAT'S good baseball.

um, back channel, anyone?

MASN and the clueless Bob Carpenter:

"The Nats were 42-42 in games Jesus Flores started last season."

Flores only played 79 games in 2007, including pinch hitting appearances and late inning replacements.

Nats are making Vargas look like a hall of famer tonight.

Which Nat is 5 for 42 with RISP...answer...Ryan Zimmerman

That annoying Bob Carpenter commercial on the radio inspired me:

Kearns Ks constantly in the clutch.

Wily Mo weakly waves at balls wide of the zone when a walk would do.

Bowden's beloved bulky batsmen barely belong in the bigs.

"um, back channel, anyone?"
Posted by: natsfan1a | May 14, 2008 8:29 PM

Ain't touching that one. No sir.

Yanno, "Elijah and the Rally Posse" kinda works. I like it, and I don't make road trips so that could come in handy.

LDO, I can't resist making you look silly with your "prove it to me." So here you go on Ayala:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/17/AR2006031701356.html

"Washington Nationals right-hander Luis Ayala, an essential set-up man in the team's stalwart bullpen, will undergo season-ending surgery on his right elbow after suffering an acute ligament sprain in the World Baseball Classic. The news left Nationals officials livid about the way Ayala -- who underwent offseason elbow surgery -- was handled by the Mexican team and highlights the potential perils of the WBC, which puts major league players in competitive situations at a time when they would normally be building slowly toward the season.

"Nationals President Tony Tavares said the club had repeatedly communicated its concerns about Ayala to officials from the Mexican team, the WBC and Major League Baseball, as well as to Ayala. An official appeal to prevent Ayala, 28, from playing was denied because medical reports showed that he was on pace to recover for the season.

* * *
Moments later, and Ayala was out of the game. His agent, Joseph Longo, said Ayala had complained that his elbow was "tight" during spring training and at the tournament. The Nationals pleaded with Ayala not to play, but he went anyway, in part because there was pressure to compete for his country. He and former Nationals Vinny Castilla, Esteban Loaiza and Antonio Osuna made up a strong Mexican contingent on the 2005 Washington team, often speaking emotionally about their home country"

As to the bullpen overwork point, if having multiple relievers regularly lead the league in appearances doesn't concern you, not much anyone can do about that.

As to Milledge, come on man--you have season tickets?

LDO--On the merits, I believe Ayala is overworked because he is on pace for 98 appearances, less than 2years removed from reconstructive elbow surgery.

Rivera's on pace for 85 after going 93 last year.

I don't agree with your theory that overuse doesn't lead to injury. It's not that it ALWAYS leads to injury. You can find examples of guys who pitched a ton and didn't get hurt (ya know, like Livan).

The problem has been BOTH poor roster management and bad starting pitching. This season, more roster management, and last year more the SPs, but I expect the SPs to become more of a problem now.

I think it's time that Kearns sat.

He's just waving at the ball. I've been an apologist of his, and I still think he's good, but... it's getting real tough to keep thinking we're better with him starting.

Sorry to be demanding/annoying...The prevailing posts seem to always include inherently negative speculation.

I don't desire posts that are always tinted Nats blue & red...just something more than Jimbo must go or Kearns sucks.

Call me crazy, but something like Barry thinks Milledge doesnt have a strong arm holds more value (at least to me) than a poster saying he has the worst arm he has ever seen. Not trying to be a jerk, I just like more than a poster's opinion, especially one that continually is disenchanted.

I'm not trying to come across as a know-it-all because I surely don't. But to say Ayala was pitching injured is different than saying Ayala pitched for Mexico after coming off surgery.

I just think the NJ can provide more than consistent negativism and hopefully something more akin to actual debate. Maybe a little support for the home team, too.

F L O R E S ... yeah!!!

Praise Jesus!

Anyone else listening to Charlie and Dave?

They mentioned the boos when Heilman came out. Then the cheers for him when he threw 2 swinging strikes to Flores. Then the immediate boos for him when Flores hit it.

That was HILARIOUS!

Even I listen to Charlie and Dave

***********************
Anyone else listening to Charlie and Dave?
Posted by: NatsNut | May 14, 2008 9:14 PM

Is it just me, or did Redding just give only 2 hits over the course of a 6 inning outing? Go starting pitching! (now, if the bats were more alive, maybe he wouldn't have had to been pulled...)

Wait...

I think the Nats just got two hits in a row with RISP.

Someone call the trainer, they must be feverish...

LDO--you just answered your own questoin. You are looking at the team from the perspective of "I'm a fan, so I need to figure out how to spin positive."

I don't ascribe to that approach. I think good fans boo when it's merited and demand better play when the team is serving up year after year of non-competitiveness.

But I don't want to boo blindly. I'm trying to actually figure out what's wrong. Some of the people we're saying need to be replaced--Bowden, Hanrahan, the black hole 5th starter, etc.--I think are fair culprits. But regardless, I'm not going to cheer incompetence. Just not gonna do it.

I won't believe it until I read it in the paper, not some blog.

**************
Is it just me, or did Redding just give only 2 hits over the course of a 6 inning outing? Go starting pitching! (now, if the bats were more alive, maybe he wouldn't have had to been pulled...)

Posted by: SF Fan | May 14, 2008 9:17 PM

GUZ!

Something weird is going on inside my body. I don't feel disappointed with the Nats right now. It seems like they're playing baseball...and playing well! (gasp)

Can someone help me figure out how to react?

3 2-out run scoring hits. Am I listening to a Nats game? Lets go team!

I do enjoy beating the Mets though. That's a pleasurable experience.

Anyone know the lady in red standing and cheering on the Nats rally? It does my heart good to see a Nats fan in Shea putting it (her health...lol) on the line in that place. She gets a red star for the night.

ascribe \ə-ˈskrīb\
transitive verb
: to refer to a supposed cause, source, or author

******************
I don't ascribe to that approach. I think good fans boo when it's merited and demand better play when the team is serving up year after year of non-competitiveness.

Posted by: Steven on Capitol Hill | May 14, 2008 9:19 PM

Just so you know, all 5 of the nats runs are with 2 outs tonight.

Yes, yes. Subscribe. Such a literate bunch. Are you the one who spotted Al Hunt?

What? No Tolman hating for almost getting someone thrown out?

But SF Fan, that's the whole point.

I should be completely at a loss for who is our third base coach is at any given moment. Because if he is doing his job, there are no outs. Either he held them, or they scored. I dig both.

But when he sends a lumbering mass of muscle (WMP) around third when the ball is already in the infield, that makes me wonder who is coaching.

Is it the most thankless job in the world? Yes.

But just to try and make amends, I'll toast him with this last sip of my beer.

Timmy Tolman: Tonight, he was alright.

I'm listening to them, NatsNut. That was funny!

Nah. Can't criticize him when the runner is safe, even if it's mostly because of Flores' slide.

Thank you, Willie Randolph for pitching Aaron Heilman! Thank you, Aaron Heilman! He gave us a win against the Mets here, and some nice Mets fan told me that he had failed to hold leads in 16 appearances. Spawn looks good in center field and he can hit (against Aaron Heilman). Nice back door slide Jesus, and against your former mentor!

"We want a pitcher, not a belly itcher.

Posted by: O's Exec | May 14, 2008 6:56 PM "

O's exec raises another argument against Livo or David Wells. Or Sidney Ponson. Thanks for your input.

SC Nats Fan,

The girl in red cheering for the Nats is Lauren Lerner, grandaughter of Ted and daughter of Mark.

I know her from high school, really cool girl. I just sent her a message saying her face when Lopez scored was priceless.

I agree...good teams dont need to use multiple relievers 85+ games a year. My point relates to the poor recent bullpen performance, which has been attributed to overwork. I'm not aware of anything that states a relievers performance is directly related to the number of appearances over an extended period.

Relievers, as a whole, have a short shelf life of effectiveness. Partly explains why they are not starters.

I have issue with the roster management. Going 24 vs. 25 isn't fair to a team that lacks talent. I feel the 40 man roster has been mismanaged. Yet, which 25th guy would be substituted for Ayala or Rauch or Rivera in highly leveraged, close games? Is Charlie Manning the new 8th inning guy? Hardly. Move Colome from mop up to tight situations? Doubtful.

Until the team scores runs, the bullpen will be in constant use. Thats they way it works in the NL. Maybe the pen gets better, maybe worse.

But the wins/losses are not relative to the bullpen's performance due to overwork. Just their performance...and the lack of offense.

Mr. Harlan once again reduced the number of errors in the gamer, but he continued his bad habit of losing it right at the end with this sentence:

"But once the Mets gained the lead, their relievers protected it and their hitters enlarged it." (A comma is needed after "protected it." The rule is pretty simple.
When there are two subjects and two verbs, a comma is needed. When there is one subject and two verbs, no comma is needed. It's "Jack ran, and Jill hit," but "Jack ran and hit.")

Hmmm...

Maybe Mr. Harlan ran out of commas. I've got extras, here's one:

,

Cheers

Awesome nats del negro! laughing here.

Nooooo!!! Please!! NOT Ayala

sob.

Anonymous at 9:44 PM

I have been arguing that the pitching mistake is not the failure of the starers to go long enough due to the lack of an innings eater. I think the faliure to have Schroder up and go with a 7 man bullpen was a much bigger pitching problem. Schroder has a very good strike out rate in 2007 in comparison to the rest of the bullpen. He should be used in higher leverage situations to rest Ayala and Rivera.

Right now Manny is calling for Ayala and I'm cringing. Use Schroder!

Aw jeez. Luis is going to die. On pace for 99 appearances.

Manny is using Ayala like a LOOGY?

Well that didn't last long.

I, too, would have liked Schroder in there instead.

But wait...

Yes Manny should be using Schroder more, and Bowden should have had him up on Opening Day over Burger King. But it's so hard to choose between 2 former Reds. It makes JimBo's head hurt.

"I suggest a new strategy, R2. Let the Wookie win"

I posted at 9:44...and I agree about using Schroder in tighter situations. Not so much for his strikeout rate but his walk rate, though.

Pleeeeeeease win. Pleeeeeeeeease.

Hold em, save em, break their hearts, Wookie!!!

Quick - test Rauch for burn out! Nats win!

IMPOTENT GONATS HEALED BY HEILMAN!

Whoo-hoo!

Ayala is being overworked.

Fact.

Cause?

Starters not going far enough in games? - Maybe

Offense not providing enough run support? - yes

Rest of bullpen (you know who you are, Hanrahan, Colome, King, Cordero) not pitching well enough to save Ayala from appearing in every close game? - definetly!

Personally I would rather find out what we have in Chico, O'Connor, Bergmann, Balester & Mock then having Livo back for old times sake, especially if he would have required a multi-year deal to bring back.

The biggest advantage this team has for the future is that we have no players under contract (and thus no money committed) past '09.

It will take the SFGiants 10 years to get out from under the Zito contract.

Here's a great quote for all the JimBow haters;

"Rome wasn't built in a day, but it was burnt in one."

Score that one in the books: Curly W.

YES

(sorry for this one, but)

"Bring out the Heilmans, and bring out the bats!"

I don't expect Rome to be built in a day. How about 14 years? 15? 18? 20?

How many years as GM before the excuses run out and you have to actually put a winning team on the field?

I'm actually kind of curious for the rah-rah crowd. How many years of this level of play before you'd get fed up? 2010? 2012? Ever?

Back after a hiatus for a funeral (my 100 year old grandma, for those I know, thanks, but it was time).

So I am very late with a thanks to Barry for years of service as the equivalent of our own personal beat reporter. Barry, your coverage was decidedly not lacking, and your candor (even when cleverly concealed), snark, wisdom, insight, and good humor have served so many of us so very well.

And Chico, welcome home. Methinks this will be a good one for you for as long as you choose to call it that.

Also, while we're on the bullpen, consider:

Inherited from the Expos: Rauch, Ayala, Rivera, Cordero

Acquired by Bowden: King, Hanrahan, Colome, Chico, O'Connor, Bergmann.

I am a God.

Welcome back, Bob L., and I am sorry for your loss.

Echoing natsfan's welcome back Bob L.,
and as my gram passed on at 98, been there.
My sympathies.

One might ask you the same question; you're still here. And what happens then, you take up cricket?
**************************************
I'm actually kind of curious for the rah-rah crowd. How many years of this level of play before you'd get fed up? 2010? 2012? Ever?

Posted by: Steven on Capitol Hill | May 14, 2008 10:23 PM

Warning - boring statistical side bar about bullpen, mostly for LDO.

Schroder had about 1:1 K/IP in '06 and '07. His K/BB was 2.6:1 in '06 and 3:1 in '07.
By comparison, Saul was about 2:3 K/IP and 75:105 BB/K total over the two years (one BB every 2 innings). Rauch, OTOH, was a little short of 1:1 K/IP and close to 3:1 in K/BB. Ayala is a tough comparison due to the injury in '06, but using '05 and '06, he was 7:11 K/IP (that's lucky!) and 2.5/1 K/BB.

Schroder's WHIP was also wookie like. As Keyshawn once put it, just give him the damn ball.

Thanks NattyDelite...I hope she was with some guards as she'll probably need em to escape the insheasylum.

SoCH: In terms of pitching, I'd be satisfied this year if we came out with 3 starters and a settled bullpen. I figure at least one of Redding and Perez will be flipped, and if two of Lannan, Hill, and the rest pan out, we can add a high end signing and do community auditions or sign a journeyman next year for slot #5. Better than that (4 or 5 starters) I'll be happy. Let's just agree to disagree about whether this year we are better served using the last spot or two to see what we have vs. bringing on journeymen (and that is by definition what we are talking about when you are talking about #4/#5 guys who have been on multiple teams).

As for a line-up, I think there is a lot more work. I still think Milledge and Zimmerman can be key offensive players, have hopes for Dukes, and think Flores has not shown anything that should make me thinkhe is not a long term starter. I'd like to feel better about RZ and LM by the end of the year and not be put into doubt about the other two. If that happens,add some good development of Marrero and Burgess longer term, and find some clear successor middle infielders, I'll feel good about 2010. honestly, though, I don't expect the line up to line up this well.

Thanks, 1a and Nats del Negro.

Nothing like a funeral to provide some perspective on a baseball team.

All, let's keep our eyes on the ball in here, the blog is better for it. We are all fans. We have different perspectives. Let's avoid personal arguments. Debates about substantive issues backed by stats and/or other info, by all means yes. Beating dead horses and/or stringing out old arguments based on past posts, no. Take the high road.

Schroder's strikeout rates are solid...that and his improved walk rates this year should lend credence to more leveraged situations with the Nats

Bob L: Sorry to hear about your gram.

SoCH: Your take on Carpenter's commercial was hilarious, especially this one:
"Bowden's beloved bulky batsmen barely belong in the bigs."

All, let's keep our eyes on the ball in here, the blog is better for it. We are all fans. We have different perspectives. Let's avoid personal arguments. Debates about substantive issues backed by stats and/or other info, by all means yes. Beating dead horses and/or stringing out old arguments based on past posts, no. Take the high road.

Posted by: Bob L. Head | May 14, 2008 11:03 PM
*******************

OK, but can we still chant like softball girls?

Bob, sorry, man. Glad you had her for so long, though.

Apologies to all, I forgot to mention that I had passed on kingship for the evening to LDO. I'm a bit nervous, because he did a much better job than I.

SoCH, I've always said, since the blog came into existence, the season I expect to see real improvement is 2009. I expect the Decade of Dominance to begin in either 2010 or 2011. It should last for a decade, in case you asked. .

Go Nats! Looks like I'm going to lose on the Johnson homer bet, but whoever had Zimm is getting close.

For those interested, Erykah Badu was a-maze-ing tonight. Her new album is pretty killer and makes the eight year wait worthwhile. The Roots were good too, but in the compressed opening set didn't have time to jam, which is when they're at their best. Their new album is fantastic and keeps the socio-political edge of Game Theory, which is a great thing, I think.

everyone on the nats and who runs the nats are worthless and cheap and short and...what else have a low iq and probably live in substandard housing without a yacht club

Posted by: Steven on Capitol Hill | May 14, 2008 5:36 PM

From the Comments to the Daily News gamer:

The Mets HAVE to do better against the dregs of the NL.

Omar dosen`t have a clue he loves to burn money, its time for him to go. We need to rebuild and get rid of Omars boys like Pedro,Delgado,Castilla and El duque We need to get some more home grown players like Wright ,Gomez and Reyes and pitching.A new GM that knows young talent and get ready for the new ball park .This year is going to get real ugly .Get rid of Willie and Heilman too.

Why won't the Mets wake up one day and just cut him[Heilman], no questions asked. No option to Norfolk, no trade. Just let this *** go. he's cost us five games this year...and how this *** still has a job in the rotation after his role in last year's collapse is beyond me. Willie is next, since 89 wins won't get it done in the East. I mean, 3-3 against the doormats of the NL East?! When do the minicamps start for football?

And from the New York Post's Preview of the game: "It may be a downgrade for Claudio Vargas to go from pitching against Triple-A competition to "softball girls," but he will deal with it." Justrin Terranova, May 14.

Pride goeth before the fall.

We are 1/4 through the season and the Nats have 3 less wins than the Braves and Mets.

Baseball is such a great game (wait I don't have a stat to back that up with), the best players do not always have the best stats (again, no stats, sorry). Last nights game was fun to watch and I feel (warning no stats) when Acta changes up the lineup and plays the bench, the team responds (need a second cup of coffee but trust stats are there). Dukes in CF makes great sense (observation based on what I see in his instincts for the game) and I think he will hit given 50-75 ABs (gut feeling).

Note if I have to wait for our beat writer to write and confirm what I see on the field for some of you to accept it so be it. Just skip over my posts (like the ones from April about Milledge and his arm). In the mean time don't read this post about Dukes in CF, but that is what I am seeing as a way forward.

Bowden did not acquire O'Connor or Bergmann. They were in the Expo's system-at least before Bowden arrived.

Remember folks, parentheses can be omitted when you read! Enjoy:

"Baseball is such a great game, the best players do not always have the best stats. Last nights game was fun to watch and I feel when Acta changes up the lineup and plays the bench, the team responds. Dukes in CF makes great sense and I think he will hit given 50-75 ABs."

I agree, JayB. But do you have any stats to back it up?

506....I am starting to like your sense of humor....

Thanks, JayB. I thought your post was hilarious, mine was just a pale riff off that.

Yep, that was a good one, JayB! :)

That was funny.

But where are the stats?

After 3 days up here, Schroder will be sent down to make room for Bergman. I bet Schroder can hardly wait until he is out of options. That has got to get old.

Yes, I would think that the numbers game must get old.

Yes, JayB...thanks for trying to give everyone here some perspective. Honestly, I've just been lurking for the last couple of days because it was just too damned hostile in here and it bums me out. I know we're all fans, and I can understand folks who get frustrated with some of the team's decisions, the players' performance, etc. But, SoCH...I'm sorry, I will never be able to support your philosophy:

"I think good fans boo when it's merited"

You want to mutter under your breath or even commiserate with your section mates at Nats Park, as in "How could Austin have overplayed that fly ball?!" I'm fine with that. But, booing your own team lowers you to the level of New York or Philly fans and I'm not going there. I know this analogy is a stretch, but to me it's like those fans who booed Dubya on opening night. I don't agree with pretty much anything he's done, but he's still our president and I will not show disrespect for the office. I learned that in the military a long time ago.

Express views and opinions, yes. Back 'em up with stats, who cares. Disrespect my family, my friends, my team, my hometown, or my country in public...never. I don't know near as much about the baseball world as all the folks here do, but I do know that.

Have a good day everyone...and GO NATS!

JayB - by the way, I would love to see Dukes actually win a starting job and keep his life going in the right direction. He has as much raw power as WMP, he is a superior athlete, and he also has a decent track record for plate discipline in the minors. I'll not post the stats ;-)

I wiped out a post last night, but I wanted to complement you, Matt, LAC, SoCH for making some good arguments about what another journeyman starting pitcher or two would have added to this team. We can argue over the merits of Livo and whether Lohse could have been predicted to be any better than others who we did not sign. As I said at 11:02 in response to SoCH, I am willing to live with the 5th rotation spot being uncertain in order to evaluate prospects at the major league level. Different philosophy, that's all.

I like the fact that we left enough room for both Lannan and Hill to take regular turns. I can't find fault with Redding and Perez (I am surprised by Perez, to be honest). Stuffing the roster with low upside journeymen will not make this team better beyond this year.

Can't see the HD,

Great post and I agree with all of it.

give Nick a chance. in all of those injuries can you not say they are serious and freaky? collision w/ Kearns fractured fema; collision w/ baserunner broken cheekbone; how can you consider these everyday injuries or even that he is injury prone. he works hard, plays hard and is not a whiner..........

Couple of new posts up.

We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.

User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.