This could go in a number of threads (including the needed and yet to be started FIRE MATT WILLIAMS thread. I mean why beat around the bush?) but I’ll put it here. I just need to vent.
I wouldn’t have sent Strasburg out for the 7th inning but regardless of who pitched the 7th through the remainder of the game, they were going to HAVE to put up zeros, period, in order for the team to win. I can’t imagine managing a team under these circumstances where you have no room for error. If you can somehow get a lead, you’re entirely dependent upon the other team’s offense being as incompetent as the Nationals’ and NOBODY’S offense is as bad as the Nationals’. They didn’t have a hit after the 5th inning. Didn’t have a baserunner after the 6th. The two runs they scored, the one run lead was going to have to hold up, regardless of who pitched the 7th, 8th and 9th innings.
The problem is that other teams don’t have the number of automatic outs the Nationals. Denard Span was the only batter who had 5 at-bats, the “benefit” of leading off. He went 0-5. Espinosa is worse than last year’s Espinosa at his worst. Nate McLouth is, dollar for dollar, the worst of the long line of bad free agent signings Rizzo has made. Greg Dobbs was DFA’d by the Marlins but he’s starting for the Nationals. Hell, if you put together the best possible lineup, the best 8 bats, regardless of position, it would still be the worst lineup in the majors.
This team is in a really bad place, right now.
