Nationals @ Diamondbacks, Game 1

[mitlen]

Romero dropped a big steamer on it

I won't forget either.   

[mimontero88]

It's a good thing we've got Doolittle on the roster so he can watch Enny blow the game.

Had to save Doolittle for a potential save.  The only choices were Enny or Perez.

[mitlen]

Had to save Doolittle for a potential save.  The only choices were Enny or Perez.

Sometime I think Dusty gives guys (bullpen) too many chances to get right.    It's almost his "standard decision".

[nats2playoffs]

Hell with Enny.   What about my GDT?

5 mitlen GDTs in the last 9 games = drug test or...


Game Over, We Lose.

[tzinc]

Doolittle was kept for the save

[trangert418]

So did he get it?

[mitlen]

So did he get it?

    "standard decision"

[mitlen]

5 mitlen GDTs in the last 9 games = drug test or...

(Image removed from quote.)
Game Over, We Lose.

Rather than TJ, I'd bet carpel-tunnel.

[Natsinpwc]

Doolittle was kept for the save

Dusty channeling playoff Buck Showalter.

[RiotAct]

True, doesn't change Enny sucks.

He's definitely young and inconsistent, but he's come through more often than not this year

[varoadking]

FP must have written this:

After the last homer landed in the seats in right-center field, Scherzer regrouped and managed to turn what began as a disastrous outing into a serviceable one. He battled through five innings and gave up five runs on eight hits but struck out nine.

http://m.nationals.mlb.com/news/article/243681506/nationals-max-scherzer-allows-3-straight-hrs/

[RiotAct]

FP must have written this:

After the last homer landed in the seats in right-center field, Scherzer regrouped and managed to turn what began as a disastrous outing into a serviceable one. He battled through five innings and gave up five runs on eight hits but struck out nine.

http://m.nationals.mlb.com/news/article/243681506/nationals-max-scherzer-allows-3-straight-hrs/

 

[mimontero88]

Sometime I think Dusty gives guys (bullpen) too many chances to get right.    It's almost his "standard decision".

Possibly but this isn't a case of that.  This is a case of being out of good options and that falls on Max for only going 5 innings.  Obviously, no one expects Max to never have a game like this.  Everyone does.  But that doesn't mean this isn't on him at the end of the day.

[mitlen]

Possibly but this isn't a case of that.  This is a case of being out of good options and that falls on Max for only going 5 innings.  Obviously, no one expects Max to never have a game like this.  Everyone does.  But that doesn't mean this isn't on him at the end of the day.

I put it on the guy who presents the triple.

[dcpatti]

Anyone think this was Dusty's way of showing that the bullpen is better but not "fixed"? Not much time before the non-waiver trade deadline. That was absolutely the wrong situation for Enny, and Dusty knows that, and everybody had a day off yesterday so they should all be available. Maybe that was a message?

[mitlen]

Anyone think this was Dusty's way of showing that the bullpen is better but not "fixed"? Not much time before the non-waiver trade deadline. That was absolutely the wrong situation for Enny, and Dusty knows that, and everybody had a day off yesterday so they should all be available. Maybe that was a message?

I don't mean any disrespect to Dusty but I'm not sure he's that "deep".      IMHO, I think he was goin' by his gut/hunch with Enny.

[mimontero88]

Anyone think this was Dusty's way of showing that the bullpen is better but not "fixed"? Not much time before the non-waiver trade deadline. That was absolutely the wrong situation for Enny, and Dusty knows that, and everybody had a day off yesterday so they should all be available. Maybe that was a message?

No bullpen has 7 stellar relievers.  When you have to use 5 in 9 innings while saving your closer, you're down to the bottom of the barrel as far as game situation is concerned.  You see this a lot in extra inning games (which was essentially the situation in the 9th yesterday since we were playing for extra innings) where managers are just kinda stuck with who is left that doesn't have to be saved for a save situation.  Dusty had exactly two options available to him at that point - Enny or Perez - neither of which were great options because they were both pitching out of the roles you'd rather have them pitch in.  It's just the reality of an extra inning type of situation where your starter didn't go deep, causing you to fire a lot of your bullets earlier than you would have liked.

EDIT:  For the record, I'm not saying that the bullpen is totally fixed.  I'd like to see us add another arm at the back end.  No question.  I'm only saying that I don't think this game is a great example of that.  This game is more indicative of how important it is for a starter to go deeper into close games.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I pulled a lot of the use of the closer discussion into the stats giggity thread on the main board.  Fun stuff - thanks Mimontero!