Spring Training Game Threads (2010)

[JMW IV]

starting to think that maybe, just maybe, Ben Goessling was paying a little more attention to Balester's bullpen sessions than we've been lead to believe.

just sayin'

[PANatsFan]

Up yours nancy-boy. But seriously, I had to post that. I can't believe the mentality that has some people already crucifying the team and making doomsday predictions on a season that is four weeks away from Opening Day. But then again, maybe I shouldn't be so shocked since this has happened here in the past.

The other way to look at it is, there's a pool of a bunch of equally talented/polished guys for spots 3,4,5. Wang and Strasburg in the pipeline - I'm betting a lot of GM's would kill for reinforcements like that. Guys like Meyers and Thompson are around too.

Other bright spots: Bruntlett crushing the ball, Desmond crushing the ball, Willingham crushing the ball OFF OF NOLASCO, Pudge doing a decent job at catcher, Nyjer breaking his slump, Dunn showing patience, Zim hitting well, Clippard looking poised, Chico and Martin opening eyes, Guardado looking reasonable, Jesse English with a nice appearance. Should I go on?

I bet there's at least 1 more trade before OD. I bet Walker hits his stride. And so on.

[PANatsFan]

starting to think that maybe, just maybe, Ben Goessling was paying a little more attention to Balester's bullpen sessions than we've been lead to believe.

just sayin'

Were you listening? They said his breaking ball looked good and he was getting some grounders and pop-ups.

[tomterp]

Zuckerman on Olsen's outing today:

VIERA, Fla. -- Scott Olsen walked into the clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium, his surgically repaired left shoulder encased his ice, his ragged spring training debut -- three runs, seven hits in only two innings -- in the books.

So why was the left-hander grinning from ear-to-ear?

"This was the best I've felt so far, by far," he said. "Every bullpen, every batting practice, everything we've done so far ... this is the best I've felt arm-wise."

continued.....

http://natsinsider.blogspot.com/2010/03/olsen-this-is-best-ive-felt.html#more

[tomterp]

Guardado looking reasonable

 

[JMW IV]

Zuckerman on Olsen's outing today:

http://natsinsider.blogspot.com/2010/03/olsen-this-is-best-ive-felt.html#more

yeah, I read this. 

sounds familiar somehow.

[JMW IV]

Were you listening? They said his breaking ball looked good and he was getting some grounders and pop-ups.

2:14 p.m. -- Collin Balester is getting rocked, but he escaped without suffering any major damage thanks to a nice 5-4-3 double play turned by Zimmerman, Orr and Dunn. Nats still trail 4-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, having allowed 10 hits already.

2:35 p.m. -- Balester was allowed back out for a third inning. Bad move. He was just yanked after allowing two more runs and retiring only one of five batters faced. Jesse English now on to mop up the mess.

http://natsinsider.blogspot.com/2010/03/nats-vs-marlins-ss-3810.html#more

[PC]

If this is just the "first week in spring training blah, blah, blah", shouldn't every team be this bad?  It's the same amount of spring training for every team, why are we, demonstratively the worst team in baseball? And IT'S NOT CLOSE!   

[PANatsFan]

Again, were you listening? AG gave them 6 outs.

[PANatsFan]

http://natsinsider.blogspot.com/2010/03/nats-vs-marlins-ss-3810.html#more

Zuck is there and I'm not. But Slowes and Jaegler made his first inning sound good, his 2nd reasonable, and his 3rd bad. Zim saved his butt, but that's what they want him to do, to miss bats less.

[JMW IV]

If this is just the "first week in spring training blah, blah, blah", shouldn't every team be this bad?  It's the same amount of spring training for every team, why are we, demonstratively the worst team in baseball? And IT'S NOT CLOSE!   

[sportsfan882]

We've never been this bad this early in ST. Every other year we at least wait until early April to disappoint.

Maybe we are getting the losing out of the way now.

[sportsfan882]

WTF! Everyone is acting like sportsfan and making season long determinations like it's already July and the season is over before it even begins! We haven't even played double digit ST games for goodness sake!    

You better hope your girl doesn't use a similar measuring stick, she might extrapolate as you have and assume you're always going to be a failure

what's up man

[Nat of the Living Dead]

Well, I am THERE and I can tell you it really wasn't pretty.

Pics from this morning's workout:

http://www.natsnq.com/?p=3437

Currently I am looking through my notes and on a review of the game and today's activities. A little later tonight I will have more pics of the game itself.

[Spinman]

starting to think that maybe, just maybe, Ben Goessling was paying a little more attention to Balester's bullpen sessions than we've been lead to believe.

just sayin'

The problem is he wasn't "Up in the Zone" today. Low and all over the place. Trying to get the ball low. We will see what happens. No one likes what we have seen out of any pitchers except...
 Chico,Clippard, JD, Mock, Storen, Thompson thats about it.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Up yours nancy-boy. But seriously, I had to post that. I can't believe the mentality that has some people already crucifying the team and making doomsday predictions on a season that is four weeks away from Opening Day. But then again, maybe I shouldn't be so shocked since this has happened here in the past.

Oh God, now YOU'RE drinking the freakin Kool Aid?  Never thought I'd see the day.  It's like Kasten put some damned enchantment on this board.

[shoeshineboy]

Zuckerman on Olsen's outing today:

http://natsinsider.blogspot.com/2010/03/olsen-this-is-best-ive-felt.html#more

Olsen seemed like he was just working on getting into a throwing rhythm. It will require a few outings to get a take on him. There was some bad luck for him and some bad defense. But he really wasn't unleashing much of a repetoire.

[blue911]

I've always maintained the outlook that it's how you play at the end of spring training is what's important.

[blue911]

Olsen seemed like he was just working on getting into a throwing rhythm. It will require a few outings to get a take on him. There was some bad luck for him and some bad defense. But he really wasn't unleashing much of a repetoire.

Kilgore did a piece on Olsen in this morning's paper. Mentions Olsen returning to a mid 2008 motion.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/07/AR2010030702879.html

[spidernat]

Oh God, now YOU'RE drinking the freakin Kool Aid?  Never thought I'd see the day.  It's like Kasten put some damned enchantment on this board.

Never. I'm just waiting until the games actually count and we see definite evidence that the team sucks before I claim that the sky is falling. I still despise Kasten and nothing has changed my mind that our owners are cheap bastards.

Chief, why not let the censors do the work they're meant to do and stop editing posts (that goes for you or your censor crew)? Or impose that bad language, words like freak, are no longer allowed to be used on the board (even though in the very post I quoted someone used the word "freakin" and that was left in the text ).    

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I've always maintained the outlook that it's how you play at the end of spring training is what's important.

I used to think so, but I'm not so sure now.

I think the Nats have had a similar trajectory for the last 3 seasons in March/April:

-Suck rocks at the beginning of ST
-Slowly come into their own and play reasonably well for the remainder
-Suck rocks in the first week or two of the regular season
-Start to come into their own after a horrid start but never really recover

It's like they choke at the beginning of each new "season" whether it's the exhibition season or the regular season.

[The Chief]

I didn't think you needed to be quite that explicit in a public thread.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Never. I'm just waiting until the games actually count and we see definite evidence that the team sucks before I claim that the sky is falling. I still despise Kasten and nothing has changed my mind that our owners are cheap bastards.

Fair enough, but c'mon, this roster sucks.

[spidernat]

Fair enough, but c'mon, this roster sucks.

I'm going to give them some time to show that they can at least be an improvement over last season.

[spidernat]

I didn't think you needed to be quite that explicit in a public thread.

Let's be consistent and do the same for other posters. I'll be sure to point out to you whenever I think something was too explicit. Even if sportsfan (the person I was singling out) complained I still didn't see the need.