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Sure, no one ever unloads relievers for fielders - it’s not like that’s a staple of deadline deals or anything
Great, big win. Too bad about the whole assembling a roster that can do something in the playoffs
That 18-inning game was the worst. Everyone knew Storen would blow it and by like the 12th inning it was obvious the Nats weren't winning.
That was the first game I ever saw at Nats Park. I had moved here 3 weeks earlier and a friend gave me the tickets as a housewarming gift.
Does the Cincy series decide the season's fate for Rizzo?
No. As explained before, Rizzo isn't going anywhere just yet.
I guess I phrased that poorly.In Rizzo's mind, does the Cincy series and the outcome of it determine Rizzo's actions for this season going forward? If we win 2 out of 3, does he say to himself, "Okay, the team is rolling, I need to make the moves to fix the parts that need to be fixed"
Oh, ok. I don't see how this series determines any new course of action that hasn't shown itself already. The problem areas are already well established and haven't really changed. IMHO.
The pen is this team's biggest issue and it's still not righting itself. The Nats need more than just an 8th inning guy.
Absolutely without a doubt. Just about every relief pitcher we have is crap and is a candidate for replacement. I would hope that Rizzo has already been on the lookout for new bodies through trade and/or free agency and isn't waiting for a certain date or series to determine if and when to start making upgrades.
Except, he's shown that he will do that. Remember last year, before the deadline when everyone got healthy and the Nats needed to make a run? Nats were 5.5 games back of the division and were getting all their players back, healthy, out of the ASB. Bryce had just won a dramatic Home Run Derby as DC hosted its first ever All Star game. Team went 5-5 leading up to the trade deadline. Rizzo didn't do anything to improve the team. In fact, he dealt away assets. He knew the team didn't have it. Mainly because they showed that they were simply a ~.500 club.
Rizzo had Bryce traded to Houston, but the Lerners vetoed it.
FWIW, the primary return for us was J.B. Bukauskas, who so far this year has posted a 7.27 ERA in AA, giving up 35 hits and 26 walks in 34.2 innings. So basically he would have been our number 2 or 3 relief pitcher in our bullpen.
I commented on this already, but Bukauskas has fantastic stuff. His slider grades out with FV of 70, and he flashes a really good changeup. And he's only 22. And while his ERA is high, he is striking out 10.38 batters per 9 innings. He's got great stuff. He has some durability concerns, but honestly, at worst, he would be a pretty electric reliever. I've followed him for a bit and I was pretty disappointed when I heard he was in the deal for Harper.
Sounds a lot like Barraclaugh
I've never seen the dude pitch, but that walk rate is prohibitive for a starter in the pitch count era. Given that the hit numbers are under control, that's probably the cause of the ERA.