1st half thoughts at the ASB - 2016

[Baseball is Life]

Rendon is quietly having a very solid season (on pace for 4+ WAR), but a lot of his value comes from his glove. His hitting has been league average, but he contributes a lot on D.

Of course, I might be biased.

Yep. Great D but I was expecting a breakout season at the plate. I was hoping north of .300 and 20 HRs.

[BrandonK]

Danny Espinosa has shut me the hell up. Dude is crushing the ball. Looking forward to what he does in the second half. Like a couple guys, I hope he isn't given a long leash, if he doesn't keep it up (even though Face will get numerous times to fail).

Pitching has been outstanding. I'm becoming a big Stras fan. He's finally learned how to pitch, not just throw, and work through adversity.

[Baseball is Life]

I should mention that although I've always backed Gio I'm just about done with him. I can't deal with the emotions on the sleeves thing  anymore. He needs to grow up and I'm tired of waiting for him to do so.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Giants number 1 in the latest ESPN power rankings. Nats up to number 2.

So we finally found out the answer to "Who is number 2's boss?  Who does number 2 work for?"

[GburgNatsFan]

Giants number 1 in the latest ESPN power rankings. Nats up to number 2.

Cubs not #2?  Surprised.

[Ray D]

I don't know why I remember this, but I recall we got as high as 52-31 and then totally collapsed. 

We did and then we did.  I jus thought it was more meaningful to quote the record at the halfway point.

People are talking as though we are at the halfway point because it's the break.  And when I was a kid people said "July 4, whoever is in first wins the pennant".   Me, I've always thought 81 games is the best measure of mid-season.   (Well, 77 games when I was a kid.)

[Ray D]

Cubs not #2?  Surprised.

We've won more games than the Cubs. (Granted we've lost more too. It's a "virtual" tie and technically they are ahead.)  Like I said, it's what have you done lately.  Lately they are 2-8, and we took 3 or 4 from our bitter divisional rival. So I'm not surprised.

[MorseTheHorse]

Great performances so far from somewhat unexpected players. If Bryce gets it going again, we could win the division walking away.

This is a good summary

[Smithian]

Yep. Great D but I was expecting a breakout season at the plate. I was hoping north of .300 and 20 HRs.

I've been disappointed in his bat. I'm hoping he picks it up second half and carries it into next season.

[Natsinpwc]

Don't know why I listen to sports talk radio. Was in the car this morning listening to 980. Sheehan asks Loverro how many wins the Nats will finish with. He says they will win the division with 90. Sheehan then asks if he knows what type of second half record that equates to and Loverro says yes: 36-24. Sheehan says no that means they would go 36-36. Loverro does not admit he miscounted and doubles down on 90 wins. Maybe he will be right but thought this summed up some of these guys in the media and their huge egos.

[GburgNatsFan]

Listen to Grant and Danny. Then turn it off.

Don't know why I listen to sports talk radio. Was in the car this morning listening to 980. Sheehan asks Loverro how many wins the Nats will finish with. He says they will win the division with 90. Sheehan then asks if he knows what type of second half record that equates to and Loverro says yes: 36-24. Sheehan says no that means they would go 36-36. Loverro does not admit he miscounted and doubles down on 90 wins. Maybe he will be right but thought this summed up some of these guys in the media and their huge egos.

[Natsinpwc]

Listen to Grant and Danny. Then turn it off.

In any event both stations were mostly talking about Kirk Cousins.
Caught Gio in with them for a couple minutes. He sounds poised for a big second half after changing diapers the last few days. Said his sense of smell was gone. Kind of like mine when he pitches.

[mitlen]

In any event both stations were mostly talking about Kirk Cousins.
Caught Gio in with them for a couple minutes. He sounds poised for a big second half after changing diapers the last few days. Said his sense of smell was gone. Kind of like mine when he pitches.

I quit listenin' to Grant and Danny and the Cousins love fest.    It's tiring.    Maybe next week after signing day passes (today?).    Of course, they'll have to analyze it next week regardless.

[Natsinpwc]

I quit listenin' to Grant and Danny and the Cousins love fest.    It's tiring.    Maybe next week after signing day passes (today?).    Of course, they'll have to analyze it next week regardless.

Training camp opens soon. No more than a couple of minutes here and there for the Nats.

[mitlen]

Training camp opens soon. No more than a couple of minutes here and there for the Nats.

I wish it was at, say, 12:15 every day they'd do Nats' talk.   I'd tune in.    Last week between Cousins' contract, they talked about Grant's appendix for 15 minutes.    For goodness sake, we've heard numerous times that Grant has a girlfriend.     

[tomterp]

    For goodness sake, we've heard numerous times that Grant has a girlfriend.     

I hear she's from Dundalk. 

[houston-nat]

Bumping this quickly because I'm not sure where else to put it -

The Nats have the 2nd easiest schedule in MLB for the rest of the year.
The Marlins have the 3rd easiest, and Mets the 4th easiest. ATL and PHI are bad.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-pirates-have-the-easiest-schedule-left/

[Smithian]

Bumping this quickly because I'm not sure where else to put it -

The Nats have the 2nd easiest schedule in MLB for the rest of the year.
The Marlins have the 3rd easiest, and Mets the 4th easiest. ATL and PHI are bad.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-pirates-have-the-easiest-schedule-left/

Kick their ass, Nats