Nationals @ Marlins Game 2

[thepointe01]

I didn't say it was tomorrow, or the next day.  Cabrera's a rental, he's performed solidly and really shored up a weak spot for us, but if Ryan can swing the bat and perform modestly well at 3rd, he's the man.

You can't have that huge a variable (his arm) at third.  Asdrubal has proven himself that he isn't a gimme out (far from it), and you can't afford to worry about anything hit to third base

[mitlen]

Fister's a pro.

[Slateman]

Bench Fister

[thepointe01]

Bench Fister

Can't afford that noodle arm in the playoffs

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Why put Zimm back at 3rd right away?  No comprende.  First few games back, let him pinch hit.  Go from there. 

[Jordanz Meatballz]

You can't have that huge a variable (his arm) at third.  Asdrubal has proven himself that he isn't a gimme out (far from it), and you can't afford to worry about anything hit to third base

Having to worry is not as bad as losing games. Williams will pull Zimmerman late if it's warranted. His bat is too damn good to quibble over what's more nerve wracking for fans. Rendon will get to enough balls at second to make up for whatever you lose, if anything, from Zimmerman

[spidernat]

Why put Zimm back at 3rd right away?  No comprende.  First few games back, let him pinch hit.  Go from there. 

I think they want to use these games as a test or extended rehab before the games really count.

[Jordanz Meatballz]

Span is putting a lot of great swings together 

[tomterp]

Why put Zimm back at 3rd right away?  No comprende.  First few games back, let him pinch hit.  Go from there.

Ok, wait a few games.  But he needs to face major league pitching, live, to be ready for the playoffs.

And remember that when Zimmerman's in the lineup, we end up having Ramos batting 8th.  That's one mofo deep lineup.

 

[thepointe01]

Having to worry is not as bad as losing games. Williams will pull Zimmerman late if it's warranted. His bat is too damn good to quibble over what's more nerve wracking for fans. Rendon will get to enough balls at second to make up for whatever you lose, if anything, from Zimmerman

The game isn't always won and lost in the last 2 innings. In the playoffs, you just can't give up extra outs and runs, and that (Zim's throws) is a variable that you just can't afford to have.

[eddiejc1]

Well, I think the World Series are part of the playoffs! 


Seriously though, I'd like to see NL owners swallow their pride and adopt the DH. It's not that we "need" the offense, but pretending that not having this doesn't put our league at a disadvantage (particularly when it comes to signing long-term contracts) is kidding themselves.

[mitlen]

That was Zimmermanesque.

[Slateman]

Now that's launching a throw

[thepointe01]

McGehee with a Zim throw there, insert stirring the pot gif

[Jordanz Meatballz]

The game isn't always won and lost in the last 2 innings. In the playoffs, you just can't give up extra outs and runs, and that (Zim's throws) is a variable that you just can't afford to have.

Conversely, the chance at a huge inning goes up with Zimmerman in the lineup. Games aren't always won on defense. If you try to win that way you might play tight and get errors anyway.

[tomterp]

The game isn't always won and lost in the last 2 innings. In the playoffs, you just can't give up extra outs and runs, and that (Zim's throws) is a variable that you just can't afford to have.

Sure you can afford to have it, if the bat makes up for it. 

[mitlen]

Now that's launching a throw

FP called it a scud.

[tomterp]

Now that's launching a throw

That was a crazy ass throw.   

I could tell as he fielded it that it wasn't going to end well for him. 

[Slateman]

Hey guys, what is that dude standing on first?

[Jordanz Meatballz]

Sure you can afford to have it, if the bat makes up for it.

We won't be having this debate in a week. Zimmerman's bat makes the offense explode and everyone happy.

[thepointe01]

Conversely, the chance at a huge inning goes up with Zimmerman in the lineup. Games aren't always won on defense. If you try to win that way you might play tight and get errors anyway.

Zim is definitely a better bat than Cabrera, but is he that much better where you risk that?  Cabrera is no punching judy.  Me, I play straight up with Asdrubal as much as it pains me as a nats fan from the beginning

[thepointe01]

Sure you can afford to have it, if the bat makes up for it. 

Unfortunately, it doesn't in this situation imo

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Dates him.

FP called it a scud.

[tomterp]

Unfortunately, it doesn't in this situation imo

We'll have to disagree on that. I'm with Zuckerman on this one.

http://natsinsider.com/2014/09/18/if-healthy-zimmerman-should-be-in-postseason-lineup/

...Ryan Zimmerman is a better overall player than Asdrubal Cabrera.

This isn’t a knock on Cabrera, not at all. The 28-year-old infielder has been everything the Nationals could have asked for when they acquired him from the Indians on July 31. He’s a pro’s pro who gives you a quality at-bat, plays good defense and has blended into the clubhouse well.

But let’s not turn Cabrera into something he’s not. He’s hitting .229 in 40 games with the Nats, with a .315 on-base percentage and an OPS+ of 97 (which means he’s just slightly below average for his position). He’s been a -0.3 WAR player for the Nationals, according to Baseball-Reference’s formula.

Zimmerman, on the other hand, has hit .282 in 53 games this season, with a .345 on-base percentage and an OPS+ of 120 (nearly identical to his last three seasons). Baseball-Reference calculates his WAR as 0.6, even with his defensive struggles.

Zimmerman immediately makes the Nationals a better team when he plays. If he hits fifth, he allows Williams to bump Ian Desmond back down to the 7-spot and makes Wilson Ramos the best No. 8 hitter in baseball. ...etc

[mitlen]

Dates him.

What would it be now?    Nothing comes to mind   ...