Spring Training Game Threads (2010)

[JMUalumni]

Good sign:  Dunn beats the shift for a single.

[JMUalumni]

OK, I won't complain about a single GIDP, but back to back double plays by Morse is a dagger.

[Potomac Cannons]

3 GIDP, 2 E, 1 CS.  Mock has done enough to have a lead and the offense is blowing too many chances.

[JMUalumni]

Mock leaves a pitch hanging, Cameron Maybin sends it on a one-way ride out of the park.

[NatsDad14]

Why won't Craig Stammen get a real opportunity to be the starter. He deserves it more than Garrett Mock who hasn't proven that he can pitch 6 innings.

[PANatsFan]

OK, I won't complain about a single GIDP, but back to back double plays by Morse is a dagger.

That's pretty bad. If his BA was .400 and his slugging was .400, that's not killing the ball. The .250 /.500 means he's hitting it really hard, good for pinch hitting.

[Potomac Cannons]

Why won't Craig Stammen get a real opportunity to be the starter. He deserves it more than Garrett Mock who hasn't proven that he can pitch 6 innings.

Stammen is getting a shot to be a starter.  Where have you been?  It's likely down to Mock, Stammen and Martin for the final two spots.  I would rather go with Stammen in the pen at first in that trio, but I wouldn't mind a scenario where Marting and Stammen get the final two spots and Mock starts at Syracuse.

[Potomac Cannons]

If you had told me Mock would have given up 6 hits and 1 BB with 4 K through five I would have been happy.  The HRs have got to go though.  It's the only real negative for him today.

[NatsDad14]

Stammen is getting a shot to be a starter.  Where have you been?  It's likely down to Mock, Stammen and Martin for the final two spots.  I would rather go with Stammen in the pen at first in that trio, but I wouldn't mind a scenario where Marting and Stammen get the final two spots and Mock starts at Syracuse.

Mock was basically given the #3-4 pitching spot based off his first 2 starts. We all know that Livan is a lock. And Scott Olsen is a lock if the team feels he is healthy. If I had it my way, it would be this:

Lannan
Marquis
Mock
Stammen
Olsen (Livan is Olsen is not healthy)

If both Livan and Olsen fail, why not go with 3 young guys in the 3-5 spot. Chances are that at least 1 one of them breaks out. The team can evaluate those guys to see if they are part of the team's future because they won't be getting many opportunities once Wang, Strasburg, and Detwiler come up.

[Nathan]

Mock was basically given the #3-4 pitching spot based off his first 2 starts. We all know that Livan is a lock. And Scott Olsen is a lock if the team feels he is healthy. If I had it my way, it would be this:

Lannan
Marquis
Mock
Stammen
Olsen (Livan is Olsen is not healthy)

If both Livan and Olsen fail, why not go with 3 young guys in the 3-5 spot. Chances are that at least 1 one of them breaks out. The team can evaluate those guys to see if they are part of the team's future because they won't be getting many opportunities once Wang, Strasburg, and Detwiler come up.

Isn't that pretty much what we did last season?

[NatsDad14]

Isn't that pretty much what we did last season?

Those young guys weren't really good like Balester, Martis, Detwiler (his first stint). Stammen got an opportunity and he showed some flashes. So did Martin. Mock didn't show them though I feel like he deserves the opportunity more than Livan does. How is pitching Livan any different than the young guys. If given the opportunity, Craig Stammen can eat innings just as good as Livan.

[DPMOmaha]

Isn't that pretty much what we did last season?

Not to start.  We went with the stellar 4 man rotation of Lannan, Olsen, DCab and Martis until JZim was called up.

[Nathan]

That's still 2 "young guns" in the 4 and 5 spots.

[Potomac Cannons]

Livan is a lock?  He's been in decline for a few years, has done nothing in the ONE appearance he's gotten this spring, and isn't showing up in any of the discussions about the pitching staff.  Livan will either be at Syracuse or he'll be looking for a job elsewhere. 

Marquis, Lannan, Mock and Olsen are pretty much locked in.  Mock's performance today was good enough with the HRs being the only negative.  That would leave Martin/Stammen for the last spot and I doubt either goes to Syracuse.  I would expect both to stay up at this point as they've both pitched well this spring. 

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Livan will either be at Syracuse or he'll be looking for a job elsewhere.

Wrong again, as usual.

[Potomac Cannons]

Wrong again, as usual.

Any support for that?  He's not even getting into games.  He's not in the discussion anywhere except for Buffalo Longlegs as far as making the staff goes.  He's got nothing left and there is absolutely nothing to suggest he'll be anywhere near Nats Park this season.

For once, provide something resembling an actual supporting argument for your statement.

[NatsDad14]

Any support for that?  He's not even getting into games.  He's not in the discussion anywhere except for Buffalo Longlegs as far as making the staff goes.  He's got nothing left and there is absolutely nothing to suggest he'll be anywhere near Nats Park this season.

For once, provide something resembling an actual supporting argument for your statement.

You are right that he shouldn't be in the rotation, but he will be because Riggleman and Rizzo love him.

[Potomac Cannons]

You are right that he shouldn't be in the rotation, but he will be because Riggleman and Rizzo love him.

Really?  They gave him a nothing contract, have used him once in ST, where he got knocked around, and haven't put him in again since then.  He's been a non-entity this spring, came to the team out of shape (even more than usual) and there are more than enough guys pitching well enough to get roster spots on opening day instead of Livan.  If we were in Bowden/Manny land still, I'd agree, but Rizzon/Riggleman are actual baseball people with a good idea of what they're doing.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Any support for that?  He's not even getting into games.  He's not in the discussion anywhere except for Buffalo Longlegs as far as making the staff goes.  He's got nothing left and there is absolutely nothing to suggest he'll be anywhere near Nats Park this season.

For once, provide something resembling an actual supporting argument for your statement.

He was late in getting conditioned.  He was training in minor league camp for a while.  Now that Stras has been sent down, they're going to start using him more.

[PANatsFan]

Those young guys weren't really good like Balester, Martis, Detwiler (his first stint). Stammen got an opportunity and he showed some flashes. So did Martin. Mock didn't show them though I feel like he deserves the opportunity more than Livan does. How is pitching Livan any different than the young guys. If given the opportunity, Craig Stammen can eat innings just as good as Livan.

Martis sucks until he proves otherwise.

[NatsDad14]

Martis sucks until he proves otherwise.

Until he actually does something, I won't get excited about him.

[DPMOmaha]

btw, Florida won 5-3.

[cmdterps44]

Until he actually does something, I won't get excited about him.

He did something last year at the start then fell off a cliff.

[Nathan]

He did something last year at the start then fell off a cliff.

:JCA batsignal:

I know I've read some one showing the stats that seemed to indicate that he was very lucky at the beginning and his success wouldn't continue like in the first few games.

[Potomac Cannons]

:JCA batsignal:

I know I've read some one showing the stats that seemed to indicate that he was very lucky at the beginning and his success wouldn't continue like in the first few games.

Could be something along the lines of him having more K's than BB's 3 times in 15 starts.  It could have been something along the lines of him winning games where he gave up a hit per inning and walked more than he struck out.  Could be that he only had one truly good start outside of the complete game.  Smoke and mirrors was asking him how he did it he was so ridiculously lucky at first.