Gutless or talentless or a bit of both?

[Ray D]

Oh, there's hope if they can find a way to win today.

Win or not, one thing to remember: in all three series so far - 2012, 2014, and 2016 - we have won the first away game. 

[PowerBoater69]

Win or not, one thing to remember: in all three series so far - 2012, 2014, and 2016 - we have won the first away game. 

Lost the last game of each of those series as I remember.

[Slateman]

We're going to find out if this team is gutless. This is the first adversity this team has faced all season. At no point were they in danger of not winning  division. Now they have to look within.

[MarquisDeSade]

They will choke. I will laugh while wearing my #Mission_October playoff shirt from 2012.

[PowerBoater69]

Gutless - sailing the ball over the cut off man trying to make a super star play like a rookie.
Gutless - flipping the bat on a walk
Gutless - tagging the running pitcher instead of throwing the ball to 2nd to get the lead runner.
Gutless - half ass no hustle play on ball in corner outfield.
Gutless - two singles to support the best playoff pitching performance this team has ever had.

[varoadking]

Gutless - sailing the ball over the cut off man trying to make a super star play like a rookie.
Gutless - flipping the bat on a walk
Gutless - tagging the running pitcher instead of throwing the ball to 2nd to get the lead runner.
Gutless - half ass no hustle play on ball in corner outfield.
Gutless - two singles to support the best playoff pitching performance this team has ever had.

You really wanted Zimm to throw to Second?  The ball would still be on the way down...

[imref]

It seems like some folks can't accept that maybe we just got beat by a very good pitcher.   Hendricks is no slouch.  2.04 ERA over his final 10 starts, with 59/17 K/BB ratio.

It's not, IMHO, gutless. Yeah, maybe we don't have the hitting talent to beat Hendricks in a playoff game, but then few do given he owns a 1.98 ERA in the playoffs.

[Ray D]

Lost the last game of each of those series as I remember.

I don't remember.  (I've blocked them out.)  Seriously though, my point was, even if we lose today, I feel confident we can win in Chicago.  If fact, I think we can win two, in which case it all comes down to game 5 here. Eventually we're going to win a game 5.

Doesn't mean I'll be happy if we lose today.

[Briggs]

I'm perplexed by DC sports fans who are members of fan forums.  I am both and as a fan I go back to the days of the SeNATors  in DC Stadium.

Why the anger? Frustration, disappointment, getting PO'd yes -  but vitriol?  Especially targeted at specific athletes?

Sports are entertainment. "the action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment."

What fun is it to be mean spirited?

[PowerBoater69]

You really wanted Zimm to throw to Second?  The ball would still be on the way down...

I'd prefer to have my fielders be able to make baseball plays. RZ must have lead the league in unassisted force outs at first, he doesn't even toss it to the pitcher.

[imref]

I'm perplexed by DC sports fans who are members of fan forums.  I am both and as a fan I go back to the days of the SeNATors  in DC Stadium.

Why the anger? Frustration, disappointment, getting PO'd yes -  but vitriol?  Especially targeted at specific athletes?

Sports are entertainment. "the action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment."

What fun is it to be mean spirited?

Do you not realize you are on the Internet? 

[Ray D]

What fun is it to be mean spirited?

That's what my wife asked me late last night.

[Leroy Veritas]

It seems like some folks can't accept that maybe we just got beat by a very good pitcher.   Hendricks is no slouch.  2.04 ERA over his final 10 starts, with 59/17 K/BB ratio.

It's not, IMHO, gutless. Yeah, maybe we don't have the hitting talent to beat Hendricks in a playoff game, but then few do given he owns a 1.98 ERA in the playoffs.

1.98 ERA in the playoffs and 0.39 in his last 4 playoff starts.

[imref]

 

1.98 ERA in the playoffs and 0.39 in his last 4 playoff starts.

which is amazing given it's so easy to hit off him if you just move up toward him and closer to the plate. 

[Leroy Veritas]

which is amazing given it's so easy to hit off him if you just move up toward him and closer to the plate. 

Exactly. If it was that easy then Ray Knight wouldn't have a losing record as a manager and be in a studio now.

[PowerBoater69]

I don't remember.  (I've blocked them out.)  Seriously though, my point was, even if we lose today, I feel confident we can win in Chicago.  If fact, I think we can win two, in which case it all comes down to game 5 here. Eventually we're going to win a game 5.

Doesn't mean I'll be happy if we lose today.

Should be a good chance in game three assuming that Max is back. Must win game today, not looking good for game four.

[bluestreak]

It will be ugly this afternoon. Not much hope with a banged up Max and no bats in the line up


Start Lind at first; Kendrix in left and anyone else behind the plate and maybe we will get 3 hits instead of 2

Lester is a lefty. Lind ain’t starting.

[Optics]

Definitely gutless. I don't know what it is, but there is a stench that is just plaguing this city. Nobody seems immune to it.

I mean look around baseball. Everyone else in the playoffs is hitting almost effortlessly. Every other home team has won, except for us. And the home crowd was awesome last night.

I just don't get it. It really is inexplicable.

[Ray D]

Someone please define gutless, because I really don't understand how it applies.  Last night's offensive effort was an atrocity.  The team was not prepared to play.  But what does that have to do with guts?

[spidernat]

Win or not, one thing to remember: in all three series so far - 2012, 2014, and 2016 - we have won the first away game. 

Haven't they also lost every first playoff home game?

[spidernat]

Gutless - tagging the running pitcher instead of throwing the ball to 2nd to get the lead runner.

that was the correct play

[varoadking]

Haven't they also lost every first playoff home game?

Yes...

[Briggs]

Do you not realize you are on the Internet? 

Yes, sadly. Call me naive - but I'm calling for the Nats to win 8-4 tonite

[monkeyhit]

How can you seriously think you'll win against the good teams when your team is centered around Ryan Milktoast Zimmerman, Jayson Kiss My Ass Werthless, Bryce Vegas Harper and Anthony Couldn't Care Less Rendon?

Of course, they are gutless and the club's culture needs to be changed, a nearly impossible chore. Rizzo has always gone for pitching, but it is the lineup that really counts in playoffs.

[MarquisDeSade]

Haven’t we been complaining about this sackless lineup in the playoffs since 2012?