Closer Watch: 2017

[Slateman]

Don't waver. Stay strong. #sunshine4ever

Nope. No more. Nats are officially the Caps of baseball

[madj55]

Nope. No more. Nats are officially the Caps of baseball

They haven't even done enough to be the Caps.

[GburgNatsFan]

Give Rizzo some time. He does a lot of stuff after the winter meeting.

But I tend to agree with you - we need a plan for closing - even if it's two very good relievers closing-by-committee - bullpen help, and a good bench bat. Maybe Stephen Drew.

You're looking at 2016 SSS #1 Right here. Right until the season ended and it became painfully obvious what this team needed to get to the next level. Rizzo has literally done everything but that.

[Slateman]

Give Rizzo some time. He does a lot of stuff after the winter meeting.

But I tend to agree with you - we need a plan for closing - even if it's two very good relievers closing-by-committee - bullpen help, and a good bench bat. Maybe Stephen Drew.

It's really too late. The market is sky high on back of the pen guys. Rizzo either sells the whole farm system or just kicks the can to the post season where Dusty freaks it up again.

[GburgNatsFan]

Or waits until a team that is not contending wants to shed salary near the ASB.

But my guess is that Rizzo's hands were tied by $140M+ and made the best of it.

It's really too late. The market is sky high on back of the pen guys. Rizzo either sells the whole farm system or just kicks the can to the post season where Dusty freaks it up again.

[OvechkinsWodka]

Well...
Cubs, Gaints, and Dodgers all got a top closer. While we were counting pennies. I hope those pennies make the front office happy

[mk6lazarchick]

Or waits until a team that is not contending wants to shed salary near the ASB.

But my guess is that Rizzo's hands were tied by $140M+ and made the best of it.

Do you mean when the price is even most costly?  Wonderful plan!

[mk6lazarchick]

Well...
Cubs, Gaints, and Dodgers all got a top closer. While we were counting pennies. I hope those pennies make the front office happy

So the 3 best teams in the NL?  I wonder why?

[Slateman]

Or waits until a team that is not contending wants to shed salary near the ASB.

But my guess is that Rizzo's hands were tied by $140M+ and made the best of it.

 Second season this issue has come up.

[Trea Burner]

They haven't even done enough to be the Caps.

Nope haven't won a playoff round, but just like the caps never in it to win it. They pinch pennies in certain areas and hope to get "lucky." It's scary how similar McPhee and rizzo quotes are and how they piss away the window to win only to get desperate and stupid towards the end anyway.

[GburgNatsFan]

Get used to being funded like a mid-market team.

Second season this issue has come up.

[varoadking]

Get used to being funded like a mid-market team.

[GburgNatsFan]

Damnit, I wish I knew what this meant. Just a little too young, I guess.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Shawn Kelley has the same WAR projection as a closer as Melancon.  He is very good and just needs the opportunity.  Add another potential option like Holland (we have plenty of TJ experience) and you have a good duo on the back end along with Solis and Treinen and Glover as the future.

[varoadking]

Damnit, I wish I knew what this meant. Just a little too young, I guess.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2016/06/16/the-time-the-san-diego-padres-were-this-close-to-moving-to-d-c/?utm_term=.56b53187a649

[mitlen]

Damnit, I wish I knew what this meant. Just a little too young, I guess.

Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeriste, I'm old and don't know what it means.     

My bad, now I see "Washington" on the card.    I can remember at that time, they asked fans to call and estimate how many games we'd attend if the Pads came here.     I guess that didn't work out either.

[varoadking]

Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeriste, I'm old and don't know what it means.     

You're spending too much time at "Bed, Breakfast and Beyond." 

[mitlen]

You're spending too much time at "Bed, Breakfast and Beyond." 

Haven't been there yet.    It's not my type of place.

[blue911]

Haven't been there yet.    It's not my type of place.

No rum?

[GburgNatsFan]

They probably have Steelers themed cups and such. I know they have Tom Brady themed sippy cups (Skippy )

Haven't been there yet.    It's not my type of place.

[mitlen]

They probably have Steelers themed cups and such. I know they have Tom Brady themed sippy cups (Skippy )

I can see the Brady stuff bein' in there.     

[mitlen]

No rum?

BYO of course.

[Ray D]

   I can remember at that time, they asked fans to call and estimate how many games we'd attend if the Pads came here.     

I did my part.  I told them 81.

[mitlen]

I did my part.  I told them 81.

We thought ol' Joe Danzansky had a deal.

[expos1994]

Stop whining about the payroll. The Nats are one of the best teams in baseball and have been for a handful of years. You should be grateful.

I'm glad they didn't spend $80 million on a closer. That's too much to pay and that budget money could be spent elsewhere.

I get that these closers sometimes have abilities greater than others. But in the end it's a hard throwing pitcher who only has to bring it for 1 inning at a time. If I were a closer, I would think it to be an easy job compared to a starter. They should make less money.

Jansen, Chapman, Melancon = grossly overpaid, even for baseball players.