2019 Bullpen

[Expos]

https://mobile.twitter.com/ThomasBoswellWP/status/1136363721381560322

The Nats have given up 60 runs in 61 games. In the 8th inning.

And people wonder why we desperately need Kimbrel.

How many games up in the division would we be in if we had even given up half those runs. Guaranteed we would be in 1st place.

Oh and Barraclough needs to GTFO now. Suero can follow him too.

[Slateman]

And people wonder why we desperately need Kimbrel.

How many games up in the division would we be in if we had even given up half those runs. Guaranteed we would be in 1st place.

Oh and Barraclough needs to GTFO now. Suero can follow him too.

-4 to -5. There is no way we are in first place. Kimbrel wasnt going to win you games when the team couldn't score runs for three weeks.

[Expos]

-4 to -5. There is no way we are in first place. Kimbrel wasnt going to win you games when the team couldn't score runs for three weeks.

I know you have been on this anti-Kimbrel stance for a while but 60 runs man. In the 8th inning alone. Imagine Doolittle pitching in the 8th. No chance we give up anything close to that.

I would say we would have at least 10 more wins right now considering the BP has been historically bad and has lost us close to 20 games.

[Natsinpwc]

I know you have been on this anti-Kimbrel stance for a while but 60 runs man. In the 8th inning alone. Imagine Doolittle pitching in the 8th. No chance we give up anything close to that.

I would say we would have at least 10 more wins right now considering the BP has been historically bad and has lost us close to 20 games.

I love these extreme arguments. So Kimbrel is a 30 WAR player?  Realistically he probably would have helped win 3 or 4 games.

[spidernat]

I love these extreme arguments. So Kimbrel is a 30 WAR player?  Realistically he probably would have helped win 3 or 4 games.

which would be huge in the standings

[Natsinpwc]

which would be huge in the standings

No doubt. 

[bluestreak]

I love these extreme arguments. So Kimbrel is a 30 WAR player?  Realistically he probably would have helped win 3 or 4 games.

Is it really that unreasonable to think that having Doolittle or Kimbrel pitch the 8th would have brought the 8th inning ERA from 9 to like 4.5? It doesn’t seem that unreasonable to me. The Nats have a run differential of -14. With those extra 30 runs they are at +16, which is about where the Phillies and Braves are. I don’t know if he’d be worth 10 wins, but 5 (games not WAR) isn’t a stretch.

[bluestreak]

Doesn’t matter. Kimbrel to Cubs...per Rosenthal...

[Kevrock]

We'll need to trade to strengthen the pen now.

[bluestreak]

Doesn’t matter. Kimbrel to Cubs...per Rosenthal...

3 years/ $43 million. I feel like the Nats could have matched that.

[Slateman]

I know you have been on this anti-Kimbrel stance for a while but 60 runs man. In the 8th inning alone. Imagine Doolittle pitching in the 8th. No chance we give up anything close to that.

I would say we would have at least 10 more wins right now considering the BP has been historically bad and has lost us close to 20 games.

Do you think that magically the bullpen would pitch better because it isnt the 8th?

It's a crap pen. They would have done as much damage in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings.

Believing that Kimbrel gives you ten more wins is absurd.

[Slateman]

3 years/ $43 million. I feel like the Nats could have matched that.

That would have put them well over the luxury tax

[spidernat]

3 years/ $43 million. I feel like the Nats could have matched that.

  that was doable

[bluestreak]

That would have put them well over the luxury tax

And?

[Slateman]

We'll need to trade to strengthen the pen now.

I agree. The question is, what are we willing to give up.

I think you need to improve more than just the pen. We're a routine Strasburg injury away from starting three guys we hope can get you to the 6th inning.

The lineup also needs help

[Slateman]

And?

And the Lerners arent willing to pay the tax

[nfotiu]

3 years/ $43 million. I feel like the Nats could have matched that.

If that came with a guarantee he'd be healthy and good for three years, then it seems like a good deal.  Is it even 50% that a 31 year old fireballer who has some concerning trends is going to be both for even half that contract?

I feel like 2 out of every 3 free agent closers this board drooled over sucked or were hurt before year 1 was up.   

We need 2 or 3 guys who can get clean innings more often than not.   They should be easy pick ups from early sellers.

[Slateman]

We need 2 or 3 guys who can get clean innings more often than not.   They should be easy pick ups from early sellers.

Then what is Rizzo waiting for. KC and Detroit have already told the league that they're selling

[bluestreak]

Then what is Rizzo waiting for. KC and Detroit have already told the league that they're selling

Apparently for the teams that missed on Kimbrel to get in the bidding.

[bluestreak]

Rosenthal pitched 1 inning. 2 hits, 2 strikeouts, no walks. Gave up HR and took loss. At least he’s throwing strikes, I guess.

Edit: 22 pitches, 15 strikes. Not awful.

[imref]

3 years/ $43 million. I feel like the Nats could have matched that.

Overpay

[Natsinpwc]

Overpay

Unless he helps you win a World Series.

[Expos]

Do you think that magically the bullpen would pitch better because it isnt the 8th?

It's a crap pen. They would have done as much damage in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings.

Believing that Kimbrel gives you ten more wins is absurd.

Who cares about the 5th and 6th? Our starters get us to the 7th quite easily most times with a lead.

I'm talking about strictly the 8th inning where we have given up 61 runs in 60 innings. If you don't think signing Kimbrel which would have pushed Doolittle to the 8th would have cut those runs allowed in half if not more then there is nothing more to say to you.

[Expos]

The Cubs had the 2nd most blown saves by their pen (we have the most)

It must be nice to be a fan of that team that spends to find a solution.

We could have had Kimbrel for what our idiot GM gave to Rosenthal and Barraclough.

[Slateman]

Who cares about the 5th and 6th? Our starters get us to the 7th quite easily most times with a lead.

I'm talking about strictly the 8th inning where we have given up 61 runs in 60 innings. If you don't think signing Kimbrel which would have pushed Doolittle to the 8th would have cut those runs allowed in half if not more then there is nothing more to say to you.

It still doesnt address the issue where those relievers get used earlier in the game, nor the three week stretch where this team didnt have its 2, 3, 4, and 5 hitters and could only score 2 runs a game.

Here, let's break this down for you:

The Nationals were 12-17.  Let's take a look at those losses, shall we?

May 1 - Loss to the Cards, 5-1. Cards scored three runs in the first inning. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 3 - Loss to the Phils, 4-2. Phillies score a run in the first, and three in the 6th. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 5 - Loss to Philly, 7-1. Phillies score two runs in the 1st, and 5 runs in the 6th. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 6 - Loss to the Brewers, 5-3. Brewers score a run in the 1st and 2nd innings, 2 runs in the 7th and a run in the 8th. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 7 - Loss to the Brewers, 6-0. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 8 - Loss to the Brewers, 7-3. Brewers score all their runs before the 6th inning. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 10 - Loss to the Dodgers, 5-0. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 12 - Loss to the Dodgers, 6-0. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 14 - Loss to the Mets, 6-2. Mets score 4 runs in the 1st, 1 in the 6th, and 1 in the 9th. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 17 - Loss to the Cubs, 14-6. The game was tied going into the 8th inning. Kimbrel maybe makes a difference in this game.
May 19 - Loss to the Cubs, 6-5. Cubs score all their runs before the 7th inning. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 20 - Loss to the Mets, 5-3. Mets scored four runs before the 4th inning. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 21 - Loss to the mets, 6-5. Mets scored a run in the 8th to tie it and a run in the 9th to win it. Kimbrel maybe makes a difference in this game.
May 22 - Loss to the Mets, 6-1. Doolittle blew the game in the 8th. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.
May 23 - Loss to the Mets, 6-4. Mets score three in the8th. Kimbrel maybe makes a difference in this game
May 27 - Loss to the Marlins, 3-2. Marlins tie it in the 7th, go ahead in the 8th. Kimbrel maybe makes a difference in this game, but honestly, I doubt it. Game would simply go into extras and the same poor pen loses the game.
May 31 - Loss to the Reds, 9-3. Reds score all their runs before the 5th inning. Kimbrel doesn't make a difference in this game.


So in the month of May, Kimbrel MIGHT have won you 4 more games. That's assuming a lot of things.

Also, they didn't sign Barraclough, they traded for him. He's getting 1.75 million. Rosenthal is getting 7 million. So you would still be exceeding the luxury tax if you had not gotten those players and signed Kimbrel.