https://districtondeck.com/posts/the-impact-of-sean-doolittle-s-hiring-on-the-nationals-01hvkgx7974f

Sam Holstine notes Doo's career was built around an outstanding fastball he could throw hard and high. Suggests he may be having an impact on Gore in particular, who has an outstanding fastball but also starter secondaries.

Also suggests Irvin's improved fastball may show signs of Doo's analytics work.

He's our best coach. Gotta dump Hickey and tell Davey it's Doo's ship to steer.

everyone gets too hyped about system products and minor leaguers filling roles on major league rosters, so it's not strange we have visions where 80% of a contending roster is on-board in the system. However, I'm getting to the point where Sunshine JCA feels 80% of the lineup and rotation could be in place by the end of the season:

3 outfield starters = Wood, Crews, Thomas
2 - 3 infield starters = Garcia, Abrams, maybe House (that's a stretch)
Catcher combo = Ruiz / Adams / Millas (not stellar, but adequate)

Leaves the easiest spots to fill - DH, 1B, maybe 3rd

4 SPs - Gore, Cavalli, Irvin, Gray.

There's projection on Cavalli, for sure, but this is the Shiner thread. I'd like a #1 /#2 FA on a short deal to fill this out. OTOH, none of this counts on Parker / Rutledge / Herz /Adon / Ward having a rotation role, so that covers a bit for a disappointment.

As for the bullpen, I still assume pieces will be moved, but I could also see Rizzo saying that with most of the 2025 lineup in place, hang onto some of the vets to complement Weems and RoGar for a year. I think they still should deal Harvey and Finnegan if the price is right, and hope a year of work will make Rainey useful for 2025.

I’m more than likely repeating myself but I do not see Crews making the OD in 2025 and I wouldn’t count on Thomas either. If Winker continues what he is doing and returns to his 2021 form I would like to see Rizzo take a run at him. Could he be another Candelario at the deadline? I agree with your infield projections but House is really young.
Rizzo needs to go all in on SP at least a # 1. I would not count on Gray being anything other than a #5. We are betting on Cavalli so you are probably correct that a #2 would make sense. We have virtually nothing in the pipeline for SP’s.

Not sure how Rutledge is an improvement

https://districtondeck.com/posts/the-impact-of-sean-doolittle-s-hiring-on-the-nationals-01hvkgx7974f

Sam Holstine notes Doo's career was built around an outstanding fastball he could throw hard and high. Suggests he may be having an impact on Gore in particular, who has an outstanding fastball but also starter secondaries.

A noticeable trend so far in 2024 has been where MacKenzie Gore has been locating his fastball, with an increased emphasis on throwing it at the upper-third of the zone. While his location can still be shaky at times, Gore's fastball has also benefited from better shape and movement. These increased trends have benefited Gore already, as his four-seam fastball K% is up at 36.4% this year, an insane increase from the 22.2 K% mark it was at last season. With that, Gore's heater has seen a 10% increase in whiff % and 8% decrease in hard hit %. All of these metrics highlight how much better Gore's heater has improved this year, and a lot of it can be attributed to the hiring of Sean Doolittle. Not only has his fastball gotten better results, but Gore's secondary pitches have all benefits from the better fastball shape.

Also suggests Irvin's improved fastball may show signs of Doo's analytics work.

As I am writing this article, Jake Irvin shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup over six outstanding innings, highlighted by a more lively fastball which he is also utilizing up in the zone, similar to how Doolittle did throughout his career. Irvin's heater was averaging 95.7 mph today, a bump from his previous 94.2 mph average, while featuring increased vertical and horizontal break, generating 9 whiffs on 22 swings. If this trend is able to continue, Irvin could join Gore as the immediate beneficiaries of the Sean Doolittle hiring.

That’s a good name choice. Much better than “wizards”