Nationals @ Mets, Game 2

[sportsfan882]

terrible pitch to a bad hitter and that's game.

can't stand Francoeur. nats have never been able to pitch him properly.

[sportsfan882]

defense doing the nats in.

[KyleScha]

just turned on the radio...why is desmond in rf?

[sportsfan882]

good game for John.

a shame the defense killed him and his inability to get out a terrible Jeff Francoeur.

[NatsDad14]

Lannan at 192 IP now, He just needs 8 more in his next 2 starts to get to 200 IP.

[houston-nat]

Okay, Mike ... make it two doubles in a row.

[JMW IV]

freak. you just knew it would burn us

"bad luck" for Desmond, I presume?

[sportsfan882]

"bad luck" for Desmond, I presume?

it's the first mother freaking game he has ever played RF.

Riggleman is going to get hammered after the game by the media.

Dibble ripped Riggleman and said Desmond should never play the OF again this season.

[sportsfan882]

what the hell are we doing? this guy is a BUM!

unacceptable

[zoom]

what happened?  (with ID in RF, i mean)

[sportsfan882]

called it

[sportsfan882]

Clippard is an enigma. when he throws strikes he's great but most of the time he struggles to do so.

[sportsfan882]

sigh. the worst type of loss.

so, completely unnecessary. this team stinks.

[JMW IV]

it's the first mother freaking game he has ever played RF.

Riggleman is going to get hammered after the game by the media.

Dibble ripped Riggleman and said Desmond should never play the OF again this season.

if Desmond wasn't an error machine in the infield, we wouldn't have these problems.

I think we should stick him at 2B and hope for the best. trade Guzman in the offseason, and acquire a new SS.

either way, PETE freakING ORR should NOT EVER be in our starting lineup.

[sportsfan882]

if Desmond wasn't an error machine in the infield, we wouldn't have these problems.

I think we should stick him at 2B and hope for the best. trade Guzman in the offseason, and acquire a new SS.

either way, PETE freakING ORR should NOT EVER be in our starting lineup.

I'd leave Desmond at SS where he has played his entire career and is comfortable.

freak Guzman.

[JMW IV]

I'd leave Desmond at SS where he has played his entire career and is comfortable and makes throwing errors by the boatload.

freak good defensive play.

fixed.

Mark my words, Desmond will make a more competent 2nd Baseman than he will a SS.

[NatsDad14]

if Desmond wasn't an error machine in the infield, we wouldn't have these problems.

I think we should stick him at 2B and hope for the best. trade Guzman in the offseason, and acquire a new SS.

either way, PETE freakING ORR should NOT EVER be in our starting lineup.

Minor league errors don't mean. Here is a Boswell chat on that:

The big worry has been his errors. In six years in the minors, his fielding percentage is .936 __very bad__ with 189 errors. So, I wondered how others had fielded in the minors where you get bad hops, bad first basemen who can't save you from errors, etc.

Here are the career MINOR league fielding percentages of a bunch of MLB shortstops and their MLB percentages afterward to see their improvement.

Jeter --.934 to .976

Guzman --.937 to .971

Hanley Ramirez--.939 to .971

R Fucal --.931 to .966

S Drew --.944 to .976

Y Escobar --.957 to .976

Isturis --.965 to .980

Nick Green --.925 to .957

Theriot--.953 to .976.

Alex Gonzalez (Reds) --.942 to.970

Asdrubal Cabrera --.955 to .974

Troy Tulowitski --.948 to .987 !!

So, as you see, EVERYBODY improves and several improve a TON. Jeter, Guzman, Ramirez and Furcal are fascinating comps.

[JMW IV]

has Desmond shown that he's improved a TON at SS in the time he's been there?

[NatsDad14]

has Desmond shown that he's improved a TON at SS in the time he's been there?

Guzman and Desmond have put up literally the exact same numbers in the minors and Guzman went on to have a decent defensive career. Look at Hanley Ramirez, he was horrible and improved with time. Just give Desmond some time and he will improve the same way almost all Major League SS do.

Fielding %:
Desmond: .936
Guzman: .937

Range Factor:
Desmond: 4.40
Guzman: 4.39

Double plays per 162 games:
Desmond: 99.8
Guzman: 99.1

[KnorrForYourMoney]

has Desmond shown that he's improved a TON at SS in the time he's been there?

Those are CAREER fielding percentages, and you're expecting Desmond to display that same improvement in a few weeks' time?

[JMW IV]

we'll see. Desmond's problems seem to be throwing from short(as far as I know). which is why I think he'll make a better 2nd Baseman. shorter throws, more time to make them.

besides that, WE DON'T HAVE A 2ND BASEMAN!

[KnorrForYourMoney]

we'll see. Desmond's problems seem to be throwing from short(as far as I know). which is why I think he'll make a better 2nd Baseman. shorter throws, more time to make them.

besides that, WE DON'T HAVE A 2ND BASEMAN!

Well, thing is, this team is not going anywhere next year anyway.  Might as well see if he can get better.  If not, yeah, we should probably make him a 2B.  Hopefully Espinosa will be ready by 2011.

[JMW IV]

Those are CAREER fielding percentages, and you're expecting Desmond to display that same improvement in a few weeks' time?

nope.

just *some* improvement.

I know making lots of errors means absolutely nothing in regards to playing good defense, but I'd like to see at least SOME difference.

[PC]

I didn't even know this was a day game so I missed it completely. 

[sportsfan882]

I see the skills. has made a few amazing plays.

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6630691

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6611881

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6577261

He's a freaking shortstop. Leave him there. The pick he made last night in the 9th was one of the best I've seen in a long while. A shame the throw sailed a little high. He will get better. Give it time.