June 14-23 homestand .... is this the season?

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

By the time we're competitive, Max  and Stras will likely be on the downside of their careers. Doolittle is 34. His career is on the way out.  They are not your future and you shouldn't plan around them. If someone is offering you something for them (and those contracts) you have to do it to help your team next season and beyond.

Rendon is a free agent and, honestly, the Nats are going to pay him what Boras wants.

So the core of this team is Turner, Soto, and Robles. We have all of them under team control through 2022. The franchise needs trade chips and players developing in the minors. Nothing they do is going to get them back to 95+ wins in 2020.

When are you looking to contend again?  Max has shown NO sign of decline, so there is no reason to not expect him to be good these next few years.  Stras will opt out if he is traded, so any team trading for him isn't giving much because it's a rental.  Who cares if Doo is 34.  He's still a good closer and we need one next year.  Trade him next year at the deadline if we're in bad shape. 

You don't break up a core like we have.  This is a core that is not far at all from contending in 2020.  It's non-sense to tank for the CHANCE to maybe build another contender in 2022 or whatever.  It made sense back in 2008.  Not now.

[Slateman]

I'd trade Doolittle for a back-end top-100 OF prospect (in AA or higher) and a mid-level, #17-25 prospect from a team, especially if it was a starter. Don't need a Gleyber Torres to make it worth it.

Agreed. Or a catcher.

[Slateman]

When are you looking to contend again?  Max has shown NO sign of decline, so there is no reason to not expect him to be good these next few years.  Stras will opt out if he is traded, so any team trading for him isn't giving much because it's a rental.  Who cares if Doo is 34.  He's still a good closer and we need one next year.  Trade him next year at the deadline if we're in bad shape. 

You don't break up a core like we have.  This is a core that is not far at all from contending in 2020.  It's non-sense to tank for the CHANCE to maybe build another contender in 2022 or whatever.  It made sense back in 2008.  Not now.

2021 is the soonest this team can contend. That's the last year of Max's contract.

We NEED to rebuild the farm system. We do not need Doolittle in a year we aren't competing. The window is closed. Stop pretending like it's not. You break up a core like that. Particularly when two other teams have a younger core that consists of more players with just as much talent.

[Slateman]

Nats are 8 games back going in to this homestand. If they dont leave here within 6 games of the division leader, the season is over.

[nats2playoffs]

Washington Nationals W-L 31-36, 4th in NL East, 7 games back
Arizona Diamondbacks W-L 35-33 3rd in NL West, 10 games back
Philadelphia Phillies, W-L 38-29, tied for 1st in NL East
Atlanta Braves, W-L 38-29, tied for 1st in NL East

11 home games:
Thu, 6/13 vs ARI 7:05 PM
Erick Fedde RHP 1-0, ERA 2.93, WHIP 1.21, SO 20, BB 11, IP 30.2
Zack Greinke RHP 7-2, ERA 2.87, WHIP 0.94, SO 82, BB 14, IP 87.2
Fri, 6/14 vs ARI 7:05 PM       
Max Scherzer RHP 4-5, ERA 2.83, WHIP 1.12, SO 126, BB 19, IP 92.1
Robbie Ray LHP 5-3, ERA 3.54, WHIP 1.35, SO 101, BB 37, IP 76.1
Sat, 6/15 vs ARI 4:05 PM Fox Sports 1
Stephen Strasburg RHP 7-3, ERA 3.36, WHIP 1.01, SO 110, BB 23, IP 91.0   
Taylor Clarke RHP 1-2, ERA 5.26, WHIP 1.40, SO 19, BB 9, IP 25.2
Sun, 6/16 vs ARI 1:35 PM
Anibal Sanchez RHP 2-6, ERA 3.92, WHIP 1.39, SO 56, BB 28, IP 59.2
To Be Announced
Mon, 6/17 vs PHI 7:05 PM
Patrick Corbin LHP 5-5, ERA 4.11, WHIP 1.22, SO 94, BB 29, IP 85.1
Jake Arrietaz RHP 6-5, ERA 4.31, WHIP 1.45, SO 70, BB 36, IP 85.2
Tue, 6/18 vs PHI 7:05 PM
Erick Fedde RHP 1-0, ERA 2.93, WHIP 1.21, SO 20, BB 11, IP 30.2
Zack Eflin RHP 6-6, ERA 2.81, WHIP 1.15, SO 66, BB 19, IP 80.0
Wed, 6/19 vs PHI 7:05 PM
Max Scherzer RHP 4-5, ERA 2.83, WHIP 1.12, SO 126, BB 19, IP 92.1
Nick Pivetta RHP 4-1, ERA 4.93, WHIP 1.38, SO 37, BB 10, IP 38.1
Thu, 6/20 vs PHI 7:05 PM
Stephen Strasburg RHP 7-3, ERA 3.36, WHIP 1.01, SO 110, BB 23, IP 91.0   
Aaron Nola RHP 6-1, ERA 4.58, WHIP 1.49, SO 86, BB 34, IP 76.2
Fri, 6/21 vs ATL 7:05 PM
Anibal Sanchez RHP 2-6, ERA 3.92, WHIP 1.39, SO 56, BB 28, IP 59.2
Max Fried LHP 7-3, ERA 3.75, WHIP 1.29, SO 66, BB 19, IP 72.0
Sat, 6/22 vs ATL 7:15 PM FOX
Patrick Corbin LHP 5-5, ERA 4.11, WHIP 1.22, SO 94, BB 29, IP 85.1
Mike Foltynewicz RHP 1-5, ERA 6.02, WHIP 1.32, SO 42, BB 13, IP 49.1
Sun, 6/23 vs ATL 1:35 PM
Erick Fedde RHP 1-0, ERA 2.93, WHIP 1.21, SO 20, BB 11, IP 30.2
(TBA but likely) Mike Soroka RHP 7-1, ERA 1.38, WHIP 0.87, SO 57, BB 17, IP 65.1

Make your predictions by 7:05pm Thursday (first pitch) in YNOT Edition 12, 11 home games, 4 vs AZ, 4 vs PHI, 3 vs ATL, Thur June 13-Sun Jun 23, 2019
http://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=37644.0
 

[Air Desmond]

Nats start the homestand by getting no hit by Greinke. You can’t make this stuff up.

[Slateman]

Nats start the homestand by getting no hit by Greinke. You can’t make this stuff up.

I mean .... Grienke is a really good pitcher. . . 

[nfotiu]

I mean .... Grienke is a really good pitcher. . . 

When our pitchers pitch well, it's all about the pitcher pitching well.  When it's theirs, it just means our hitters don't care!

[imref]

When our pitchers pitch well, it's all about the pitcher pitching well.  When it's theirs, it just means our hitters don't care!

Davey did a terrible job managing against Greinke.

[HalfSmokes]

I mean .... Grienke is a really good pitcher. . . 

Which is fine, but if you needed to win 7 of 11 to make it a season, that’s now 7 of 10.

[Slateman]

Davey did a terrible job managing against Greinke.

Yea. He should have pinched hit himself into the game

[bluestreak]

When our pitchers pitch well, it's all about the pitcher pitching well.  When it's theirs, it just means our hitters don't care!

Now you get WNFF

[UMDNats]

Davey did a terrible job managing against Greinke.

This game was an automatic loss no matter what Davey did.

[mitlen]

Now you get WNFF

   The whole damn internet is like that.

[HalfSmokes]

Is there anyone who actually thinks 7 of 9 is remotely possible?

[imref]

Is there anyone who actually thinks 7 of 9 is remotely possible?

losses?

[Slateman]

With the postponement of one of the games against the Phillies, I adjusted the Nationals "needs" to 6-4.

They're on pace for that. First game against the Braves will be telling. They likely wont have Suero or Doolittle available.

[bluestreak]

With the postponement of one of the games against the Phillies, I adjusted the Nationals "needs" to 6-4.

They're on pace for that. First game against the Braves will be telling. They likely wont have Suero or Doolittle available.

Rainey out as well, if I’m not mistaken.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

We need Stras to come up big tomorrow.  He's due for a lights out start.

[bluestreak]

The Nats are 3.5 games out of the wild card.

As long as the Nats don’t get swept by the Braves, they will be fine (as Slate said). The real test will be beating up on clearly inferior teams.
I think that the Nats have to win 9 of the 12 wins leading into the All-Star break. That would put them 3 games above .500 going into the break.

[GataNats]

With the postponement of one of the games against the Phillies, I adjusted the Nationals "needs" to 6-4.

They're on pace for that. First game against the Braves will be telling. They likely wont have Suero or Doolittle available.

Not having Suero available means zip.

[Slateman]

The Nats are 3.5 games out of the wild card.

As long as the Nats don’t get swept by the Braves, they will be fine (as Slate said). The real test will be beating up on clearly inferior teams.
I think that the Nats have to win 9 of the 12 wins leading into the All-Star break. That would put them 3 games above .500 going into the break.

Disagree. This team needs to win the series against the Braves. The only exception is if we can link the losses directly to the bullpen issue. But the Nats are hot and they need to keep playing well against an opponent they need to gain ground against.

[dracnal]

With the postponement of one of the games against the Phillies, I adjusted the Nationals "needs" to 6-4.

The Nats are 3.5 games out of the wild card.

As long as the Nats don’t get swept by the Braves, they will be fine (as Slate said). The real test will be beating up on clearly inferior teams.

Disagree. This team needs to win the series against the Braves.

We're 5-2 on this homestand. Would it kill you to just agree with someone once?

[nfotiu]

How far down the bullpen depth chart do we have to go to find someone who didn't pitch the last 2 games?  I guess Rosenthal is well rested.

[Elvir Ovcina]

How far down the bullpen depth chart do we have to go to find someone who didn't pitch the last 2 games?  I guess Rosenthal is well rested.

Bullpens tend to get taxed when you play 3 games in 2 days, but neither Sipp nor Rosenthal pitched in any of the three.  Buckle up!