Nationals @ Cardinals, Game 3

[imref]

do that one more time Kyle

[imref]

time to bring in Harvey

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Verskrüden

[imref]

worst loss of the season.  Souza would have had that.

[Dave in Fairfax]

worst loss of the season.  Souza would have had that.

This is all on Finnegan. Call made a hell of an effort.

[Natsinpwc]

 Quite a way to lose a game.

[Slateman]

Completely unacceptable of Davey to leave him in the game

[welch]

As we all could see, they should have pulled Finnegan early in the inning when Hickey went to the mound. Finnegan did not have it. That was obvious.

[aspenbubba]

This crap show is on DM as he should have let Edwards pitch the 9 th as he only gjhrew 9 pitches in the 8th

[bluestreak]

Even on a crap team in a crap season that one stung.

[Dave in Fairfax]

You all are right. I should amend my statement above. It was clear - even to me, and I suck at evaluating pitching - from the second batter that Finnegan was all over the place. So it's on Finnegan for his pitching, but Davey for his managing.

[aspenbubba]

Anyone reminded of Drew Storen tonite.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Or Guy Fawkes

Anyone reminded of Drew Storen tonite.

[Five Banners]

Anyone reminded of Drew Storen tonite.

Standard decision

[imref]

As we all could see, they should have pulled Finnegan early in the inning when Hickey went to the mound. Finnegan did not have it. That was obvious.

Harvey should have been for that last batter

[aspenbubba]

I’m very negative about last night. In a horrid season this maybe the worst loss of the year. There was a positive vibe recently over the past  few weeks only to be destroyed by Finnegan and DM. I think we will see a downturn over the remaining 3 weeks of the season as this was a demoralizing loss no matter how Davey spins it in his presser.

[Natsinpwc]

I’m very negative about last night. In a horrid season this maybe the worst loss of the year. There was a positive vibe recently over the past  few weeks only to be destroyed by Finnegan and DM. I think we will see a downturn over the remaining 3 weeks of the season as this was a demoralizing loss no matter how Davey spins it in his presser.

That was not fun but even the good teams blow games like that sometimes. Not many opportunities this year for the Nats to do so.  Team has been playing .500 ball the past month which is over its head. So some adjustment downward is probably due.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It had been 6 days since Finnegan had last pitched.  he had not let up a run in his previous 9 appearances. In that period, he had one stretch of 5 days between appearances, which was after coming in 4 out of the previous 5 days. Before that appearance on 8/9 (2 runs, 6 batters, at Cubs), he had not let up a run since 7/17 (6 clean appearances). 8/9 and last night are the only appearances since the ASB where he's given up runs. He needs steady work, and he's generally reliable. Learning to wriggle off the hook is part of a closer's growth.  Stinks it failed, but, given him a day off, and  I'll be confident when they go to him in Philly.

[aspenbubba]

It had been 6 days since Finnegan had last pitched.  he had not let up a run in his previous 9 appearances. In that period, he had one stretch of 5 days between appearances, which was after coming in 4 out of the previous 5 days. Before that appearance on 8/9 (2 runs, 6 batters, at Cubs), he had not let up a run since 7/17 (6 clean appearances). 8/9 and last night are the only appearances since the ASB where he's given up runs. He needs steady work, and he's generally reliable. Learning to wriggle off the hook is part of a closer's growth.  Stinks it failed, but, given him a day off, and  I'll be confident when they go to him in Philly.

Thank you but I gauge a closers effectiveness by how many clean innings he throws. I think he has pulled a couple of Chad (heart attack ) Cordero’s in the time span you cited.

[imref]

Coming into last night, Finnegan hadn't allowed a run in his last 9 appearances. In 16 appearances since July 17, Finnegan has allowed runs in two of them (including last night).

he had a bad night, let's not overreact (yes, I know that this forum is driven by overreaction)

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Thank you but I gauge a closers effectiveness by how many clean innings he throws. I think he has pulled a couple of Chad (heart attack ) Cordero’s in the time span you cited.

not saying he's a top tier closer.  Since the all star break, he's had 16 appearances.  He has many batters faced (or fewer)  as outs recorded (ok, there may be a dp in there, but there's also multi-inning appearances) in 7 times, and 2 more times with just 1 extra batter.  That's not prime Kimbrel. 

[aspenbubba]

not saying he's a top tier closer.  Since the all star break, he's had 16 appearances.  He has many batters faced (or fewer)  as outs recorded (ok, there may be a dp in there, but there's also multi-inning appearances) in 7 times, and 2 more times with just 1 extra batter.  That's not prime Kimbrel. 

Didn’t he load the bases recently within the past 2 weeks and escaped with no runs scored? And another one with 2 runners on. My main concern was using Edwards for the 9th and the psychological damage of a heart wrenching loss on the team as they were playing respectable ball.