Plan "B"

[Air Zimmerman]

Yea i mean last years 3-0 start made it look like we'd be able to recieve that, but then whatdya know, 9 games down the drain and we blow it.

ya know what? i point to a specific game which flushed our season down the toilet: the 4th game of the season, we jump all over Moyer, take a 5-0 lead, on the verge of sweeping the Phillies and starting 4-0, we collapse and the rest was history.

who knows what would've happened if we started 4-0...

[hammondsnats]

Sorry. What was I thinking? Is it too much to ask of them to at least hover around .500 into May-June?

with this bunch yes, sadly.

[sportsfan882]

ya know what? i point to a specific game which flushed our season down the toilet: the 4th game of the season, we jump all over Moyer, take a 5-0 lead, on the verge of sweeping the Phillies and starting 4-0, we collapse and the rest was history.

who knows what would've happened if we started 4-0...

All :bball:'s fault. 

[spidernat]

Yeah I was so proud of us after starting 3-0 and I really thought we had turned the corner and then we had one terrible loss in Philly and we never recovered.

Our first 6 games of the season are on the road so we could be looking at another bad start. 

I believe that game was freaked up by good old beachball himself in the bottom of the 6th with a little help from Rivera.

[cmdterps44]

I do believe after beachballs reign, Colome couldn't even close an inning.

[spidernat]

I do believe after beachballs reign, Colome couldn't even close an inning.

I wish I had a recap of that 6th inning because I remember Rivera coming in and not even retiring a batter only to be followed by King and he gave up a couple of hits as well.

[Air Zimmerman]

I do believe after beachballs reign, Colome couldn't even close an inning.

nope. i distinctly remember Colome getting out of a jam, and then Manny inexplicably leaving Colome in there for a second inning and we were doomed.

[sportsfan882]

Phillies 6th
Jason Bergmann pitching:
Shane Victorino:   Ball, Ball, Victorino grounded out to first.
Chase Utley:   Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Utley singled to right.
Ryan Howard:   Ball, Foul, Howard singled to right, Utley to second.
Pat Burrell:   Ball, Strike swinging, Burrell singled to left, Utley scored, Howard to third.
Geoff Jenkins:   Ball, Foul, Ball, Foul, Ball, Jenkins singled to right, Howard scored, Burrell to second.
Saul Rivera relieved Jason Bergmann.
Pedro Feliz:   Ball, Burrell to third, Jenkins to second on wild pitch, Feliz singled to center, Burrell and Jenkins scored.
Chris Coste:   Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Coste singled to right, Feliz to second
Greg Dobbs hit for Rudy Seanez.
Greg Dobbs:   Ball, Ball, Strike swinging, Foul, Dobbs singled to left center, Feliz scored, Coste to second.
Ray King relieved Saul Rivera.
Jimmy Rollins:   Coste to third, Dobbs to second on wild pitch, Rollins hit by pitch.
Shane Victorino:   Ball, Victorino singled to right, Coste scored, Dobbs to third, Rollins to second.
Chase Utley:   Strike looking, Ball, Utley grounded into double play first to catcher to first, Dobbs out at home.

Phillies 10th
Jesus Colome pitching:
Jimmy Rollins:   Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Rollins singled to shallow center.
Shane Victorino:   Ball, Pickoff attempt, Pickoff attempt, Strike looking, Ball, Victorino sacrificed to third, Rollins to third.
Chase Utley:   Intentional ball, Intentional ball, Intentional ball, Utley intentionally walked.
Ryan Howard:   Intentional ball, Intentional ball, Intentional ball, Howard intentionally walked, Utley to second.
Jayson Werth:   Ball, Ball, Ball, Werth walked, Rollins scored, Utley to third, Howard to second

[cmdterps44]

oooo thats right, Colome was in and was direct to walk utley and howard... i still think thats a stupid movie with colome on the mound

[hammondsnats]

haha this is definitely going to turn into a Tex and the Nats part 2 thread

[sportsfan882]

haha this is definitely going to turn into a Tex and the Nats part 2 thread

Let's hope this thread doesn't end in failure like part 1.

[cmdterps44]

With options available right now, what would be considered the second best thing?

The Dunn/Hudson chase? or something else?

[ronnynat]

With options available right now, what would be considered the second best thing?

The Dunn/Hudson chase? or something else?

1. Dunn/another solid first baseman
2. A good reliever
3. Hudson/another solid second baseman

None of these have to be free agents.

[wpa2629]

What about Nady ...the Nats had interest in him before and the yankees don't need him now ...

[ronnynat]

What about Nady ...the Nats had interest in him before and the yankees don't need him now ...

I'd be cool w/ that, but it'd cost us a young position player. I wouldn't want to give up Marrero or Burgess for him.

[blue911]

I wish I had a recap of that 6th inning because I remember Rivera coming in and not even retiring a batter only to be followed by King and he gave up a couple of hits as well.

Bottom of the 6th, Phillies Batting, Behind 1-6, Jay Bergmann facing 2-3-4
   O      ---  3    5%  S Victorino     Groundout: 1B unassisted
          ---  5    6%  C Utley         Single to RF (Line Drive to Short RF)
          1--  3    9%  R Howard        Single to RF (Line Drive to Short RF); Utley to 2B
   R      12-  3   16%  P Burrell       Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF Line); Utley Scores; Howard to 3B
   R      1-3  6   22%  G Jenkins       Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B); Howard Scores; Burrell to 2B
                  Saul Rivera replaces Jay Bergmann pitching and batting 9th
          12-      27%  P Feliz         Wild Pitch; Burrell to 3B; Jenkins to 2B
   RR     -23  2   41%  " "             Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B); Burrell Scores; Jenkins Scores
          1--  5   47%  C Coste         Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B); Feliz to 2B
                  Greg Dobbs pinch hits for Rudy Seanez batting 9th
   R      12-  5   63%  G Dobbs         Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF); Feliz Scores; Coste to 2B
                  Ray King replaces Saul Rivera pitching and batting 9th
          12-  1   71%  J Rollins       Hit By Pitch; Coste to 3B; Dobbs to 2B
   R      123  2   82%  S Victorino     Single to RF (Line Drive to Short CF-RF); Coste Scores; Dobbs to 3B; Rollins to 2B
   OO     123  3   69%  C Utley         Ground Ball Double Play: 1B-C-1B
                  6 runs, 8 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Nationals 6, Phillies 7.

[ronnynat]

Bottom of the 6th, Phillies Batting, Behind 1-6, Jay Bergmann facing 2-3-4
   O      ---  3    5%  S Victorino     Groundout: 1B unassisted
          ---  5    6%  C Utley         Single to RF (Line Drive to Short RF)
          1--  3    9%  R Howard        Single to RF (Line Drive to Short RF); Utley to 2B
   R      12-  3   16%  P Burrell       Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF Line); Utley Scores; Howard to 3B
   R      1-3  6   22%  G Jenkins       Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B); Howard Scores; Burrell to 2B
                  Saul Rivera replaces Jay Bergmann pitching and batting 9th
          12-      27%  P Feliz         Wild Pitch; Burrell to 3B; Jenkins to 2B
   RR     -23  2   41%  " "             Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B); Burrell Scores; Jenkins Scores
          1--  5   47%  C Coste         Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B); Feliz to 2B
                  Greg Dobbs pinch hits for Rudy Seanez batting 9th
   R      12-  5   63%  G Dobbs         Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF); Feliz Scores; Coste to 2B
                  Ray King replaces Saul Rivera pitching and batting 9th
          12-  1   71%  J Rollins       Hit By Pitch; Coste to 3B; Dobbs to 2B
   R      123  2   82%  S Victorino     Single to RF (Line Drive to Short CF-RF); Coste Scores; Dobbs to 3B; Rollins to 2B
   OO     123  3   69%  C Utley         Ground Ball Double Play: 1B-C-1B
                  6 runs, 8 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Nationals 6, Phillies 7.

Did you really not see SF's post?

[MrMadison]

1. Dunn/another solid first baseman
2. A good reliever
3. Hudson/another solid second baseman

None of these have to be free agents.

winner winner.

[spidernat]

I think I prefer plan "DD"    see 39th floor, suite 974....

http://www.wnff.net/index.php/topic,6521.msg311453.html#msg311453

[DCFan]

Trading Milledge would be a big mistake, IMO.

That makes no sense without knowing who's being offered in return.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I'd be cool w/ that, but it'd cost us a young position player. I wouldn't want to give up Marrero or Burgess for him.

I think we're overvaluing both of them.  They COULD be great players, but both have flaws and are far enough away right now.  Nady's a known quantity.

[raleighnat]

I've been silent for some time on the boards, but it is nice after such an agonizing experience to check back in and commiserate with Nats fans.  What a heartbreaker today!

As my assessment on the state of the Nats, a couple of thoughts:

1) It takes a long-time for your average to average+ market team to recover from years of neglect - longer and harder than I'd ever imagined
2) The Lerner's really stepped up, and wisely - if you're going to go for it, make it the "right" kind of guy (which Tex was) - good try
3) Sucking royally while you wait for the pipeline to fill can be miserable - I'll be 40 next year!  Do we have to completely suck while we rebuild?
4) I hate the Yankees (and the Sox too) with their ability to buy over any mistake
5) Incredible patience is the only way to go
6) All we can ask for while rebuilding is to set things up so that if we catch some breaks we contend - no sure steps at this point in our development

I say O-Dog, Dunn, and Sheets or Penny - The pitchers would be a key, (unlikely but possible to pan out) - but at least with these three acquisitions, there's a chance for a good year!  That would buy time for the plan to continue developing.  Without a "potential" #1 to go with our half-dozen #3 starters, no amount of offense will give us a chance.

I am committed to participating on the boards regularly - reading you guys posts gives me a sense of not being alone in the struggle.

[wpa2629]

Nice to see you ralieighnat ...

[raleighnat]

Weird, didn't know I had that much invested in Tex signing...but really bummed...told the family and kids to cut me some slack this evening - they didn't quite understand but are working with me - my boy's only 5, so give him a few years and there will be more empathy on the home front.

[blue911]

Did you really not see SF's post?

  I don't normally pay attention to what he says