Fun with Fister

[imref]

An amazing game all around today - pitching, bunting, fielding.  Dan Haren he's not.

ERA down to 3.19, take out that first start and he's in the low 2's.

Most amazingly, he's had a decision in all his starts.

[Vega]

Yup. Do it.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

I love his glove too.  That little pirouette on the mound and throw to first was, well, Johnny Weir elegant 

[varoadking]

Rizzo already tried to low ball him...he declined.  Maybe they can give him the money they'll save on Desmond...

[metssuck]

Rizzo already tried to low ball him...he declined.  Maybe they can give him the money they'll save on Desmond...

What was he offered?

[HalfSmokes]

After they acquired Fister this winter from the Detroit Tigers, the Nationals approached Fister with the hope of signing him to a long-term contract extension, according to multiple people familiar with the situation.
The talks never gained traction, and Fister ultimately signed a one-year, $7.2 million contract to avoid arbitration. The Nationals control Fister’s contractual rights through 2015, when he will again be eligible for arbitration.
Fister declined comment on the talks.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2014/05/05/the-nationals-tried-to-exted-doug-fister-this-winter/

[Salamander Man]

Fister is a guy I've eyed for years.  I thought he was undervalued because he's a groundball guy pitching in front of that train wreck of an infield defense in Detroit. 

I really believe he's a top 20 starter in the majors and I think in time, people will start putting him in the class of guys like Zimmermann, Shields, etc.

[HalfSmokes]

I think most people who follow the players have him there, he's just been unfortunate to pitch for a terrible team and then in front of a terrible defense before coming here neither of which will get him on sports center

[Baseball is Life]

I tell you what, if this guy is as as good as he's looked so far, he might be the difference with winning the division. Imagine if the Nats had him instead of Haren last year.

[metssuck]

Imagine if dan haren performed for us last season like he during this season for the dodgers

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It is time for a thread about the other bulldog on the staff.  He's commonly thought of as a #3 starter because he's been on staffs with Cy Youngs (King felix, Verlander, Scherzer), No hitter (sanchez), big winners and all stars (Gio, JZ, Stras), but, since 2011 (the year he was traded for Furbush), he's 12th in WAR among all MLB pitchers and was 12th last year as well.

So, here is a place to put your fun fister facts and observations.

[mitlen]

Mister Fister

[PC]

Stopper!

[welch]

Other Nats' starters throw harder, have mored wicked breaking stuff, but I'm just beginning to suspect that Fister is the best pitcher. He should only get better now that he's healthy and stronger. Add Harper or Ramos, and it could be fun in July and August...ah, August...the month when teams die. Looks like the Nats will be stronger. 

[Slateman]

Ace

[Vega]

I wonder what lengths Detroit fans are currently going to delude themselves into accepting the Fister deal?

[shoeshineboy]

There is a reason I told people that he became our best starter the moment he was acquired. It was why losing him before the season started was such a blow.

[GNatsNoMore]

Other Nats' starters throw harder, have mored wicked breaking stuff, but I'm just beginning to suspect that Fister is the best pitcher. He should only get better now that he's healthy and stronger. Add Harper or Ramos, and it could be fun in July and August...ah, August...the month when teams die. Looks like the Nats will be stronger. 

I agree.  As much as I like our "1-3" starters, I'm not feeling so bad about losing Strasburg or Zimmermann in the next few years if we can re-sign Fister long term.

[spidernat]

Keep all three and look to unload Gonzalez.

[BigMeech]

Keep all three and look to unload Gonzalez.

This.  Gio is easily the most expendable out of the top four.

Although, I'll admit that I'm biased since I still haven't forgiven him for failing to shut down the Cardinals in Game 5.

[spidernat]

This.  Gio is easily the most expendable out of the top four.

Although, I'll admit that I'm biased since I still haven't forgiven him for failing to shut down the Cardinals in Game 5.

I feel the same way about Storen.

[mmzznnxx]

I feel the same way about Storen.

I like him as a person, but until he pulls some clutch performances I can't trust him like I did before 2012.

[aspenbubba]

Jeezus , I thought I held grudges. Too be honest I never think about Game 5. I was so devastated that I stayed off this site for days. I left the stadium that night feeling I was junked -punched. I have gone to Redskins Super Bowls where they lost and never felt that bad. I just look at games "in the moment" and not carry their significance into the remainder of the season unless it ends the season. Do you also remember that Clip gave up a solo?

[Smithian]

I like him as a person, but until he pulls some clutch performances I can't trust him like I did before 2012.

I hold that feeling of sadness, distrust, and hurt against the whole team. Game 5 still makes me sad.

[mitlen]

I think Game 5 is what's making a lot of us cranky about last year and this year's teams.    We wanna be "all in" but there's that lingering doubt.    The Nats must purge the doubt.