NL East (2019)

[Baseball is Life]

Harper walked them off last night.  He's been pretty solid as of late, not $30 million solid, but .271 / .409 / .495 with 6HRs in his last 30 games/107 ABs

He's due for a slump. One streaky hitter. Unless he's in the running for MVP every year, they've overpaid.

[nfotiu]

He's due for a slump. One streaky hitter. Unless he's in the running for MVP every year, they've overpaid.

Even if he has a few near-mvp seasons early in the contract, if they don't have the pitching to contend for anything over those years, they are really going to be hating the last 2/3rds of the contract when there is little chance he'll be playing near that level.

[imref]

Even if he has a few near-mvp seasons early in the contract, if they don't have the pitching to contend for anything over those years, they are really going to be hating the last 2/3rds of the contract when there is little chance he'll be playing near that level.

yep. he's performing at a $20ish million a year level.

[HalfSmokes]

yep. he's performing at a $20ish million a year level.

And to break even (assuming the out years they receive below value), he probably needs to be putting up twice that

[tenken627]

With the Braves getting shutout right now, I'm starting to come around that we actually can catch Atlanta. We could be only 5.5 GB tonight right before starting a 4 game series with them.

[dracnal]

With the Braves getting shutout right now, I'm starting to come around that we actually can catch Atlanta. We could be only 5.5 GB tonight right before starting a 4 game series with them.

Shhh... shhh... they're the Unstoppabarves. Physically impossible to catch.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

With the Braves getting shutout right now, I'm starting to come around that we actually can catch Atlanta. We could be only 5.5 GB tonight right before starting a 4 game series with them.

I fear that the Sunday game we dropped to them at home before the ASB will come back to haunt us.  Not so much the Rosenthal / Ross game; that had to happen to clean up the roster.  But that last game of the series.  We win it, we could have been 3.5 GB going into this series.

[tenken627]

I fear that the Sunday game we dropped to them at home before the ASB will come back to haunt us.  Not so much the Rosenthal / Ross game; that had to happen to clean up the roster.  But that last game of the series.  We win it, we could have been 3.5 GB going into this series.

We should have won both that Saturday and Sunday 

Edit: At the very least, Rosenthal should have been punted wayyy before that meltdown against the Braves. People were excited by his one out outing.

Come on, it was one freakin out!!

[Baseball is Life]

Shoulda, coulda. The Braves ain't the '27 Yankees. If the Nats take 3 of 4 this weekend, the Barves will start to sweat. The Nats have to at least break even and keep the pressure on.

[nfotiu]

I fear that the Sunday game we dropped to them at home before the ASB will come back to haunt us.  Not so much the Rosenthal / Ross game; that had to happen to clean up the roster.  But that last game of the series.  We win it, we could have been 3.5 GB going into this series.

Our bullpen was spent.  We were lucky the B bullpen got us through the game before.   We were bound to lose one of those 2 games.   Braves are well within reach if the Nats can keep somewhat near this pace.   

[nfotiu]

Shoulda, coulda. The Braves ain't the '27 Yankees. If the Nats take 3 of 4 this weekend, the Barves will start to sweat. The Nats have to at least break even and keep the pressure on.

If we win tonight and win the series, we are only down 3.5 games.   Lose tonight and lose the series and it is 8.5.   That's probably the difference between a realistic 35-40% chance of winning the division vs a longshot 5-10%.    It's got to be by far the most consequential series this year.

[bluestreak]

Braves batting in the 8th and have plated 2 runs already.

[nfotiu]

ugh, struck out Freeman for what would have ended the game, but he got to first on the passed ball and now bases are loaded.

[varoadking]

Barves lose...

[mitlen]

Barves lose...

 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Barves lose...

let's celebrate Sherman style!

[Baseball is Life]

If we win tonight and win the series, we are only down 3.5 games.   Lose tonight and lose the series and it is 8.5.   That's probably the difference between a realistic 35-40% chance of winning the division vs a longshot 5-10%.    It's got to be by far the most consequential series this year.

Win tonight and split the series and the Nats stay 5.5 out with a ton of the season left. I have no problem with that at this point given where they were a month ago.

[Slateman]

let's celebrate Sherman style!

We're committing war crimes now?

[mitlen]

We're committing war crimes now?

If only they hadn't bombarded Ft. Sumter   ...

[tenken627]

Phillies just won't go away. Split with the big bad Dodgers.

[imref]

we're facing a guy with a 7 ERA tonight.  Fingers crossed he doesn't look like Randy Johnson against us.

[rileyn]

Phillies just won't go away. Split with the big bad Dodgers.

That win on Tuesday night saved their season.  They got a nice bump from that.

[Baseball is Life]

That win on Tuesday night saved their season.  They got a nice bump from that.

They are a very flawed team. Weak starting pitching and pen, and depleted lineup because of injuries. They will continue their down trajectory of the last few weeks. Four games does not a season make.

[trangert418]

we're facing a guy with a 7 ERA tonight.  Fingers crossed he doesn't look like Randy Johnson against us.

Went 1-1 against the Blos and didn't see their #1, 2 or 3 starters.

[Mathguy]

Interesting that the biggest difference between our record & the Barves is our records vs NL Central teams

http://stats.washingtonpost.com/mlb/standings.asp