Nationals vs Padres, game 1

[bluestreak]

That was awful

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

How does that even happen?

[imref]

Could Robles play short?

[imref]

And now the scoreboards are all broken.

[imref]

Soto needs a HR and triple to hit for the cycle in this inning.

[imref]

Garcia can hit at least.

[welch]

At Rochester, Abrams is 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored, and Call is 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Rochester leads 10 - 3 in the top of the 7th.

[imref]

Still no scoreboard. Just a batter image.

[Natsinpwc]

And now the scoreboards are all broken.

LAC.

[bluestreak]

Still no scoreboard. Just a batter image.

Also no score, no count, no nothing.

[Slateman]

McGee tried ever so desperately to give up a homer

[Elvir Ovcina]

I'm not usually one to pull the plug on prospects quickly, but it's pretty clear Garcia can't play SS. 

These are not issues you should be seeing with a 22-year-old who's played over 300 games at SS as a professional.  In most orgs, issues like repeated brain farts, terrible footwork, and hearing footsteps with fast runners get you moved off SS in AA.  It's now that time for him.  Put him at 2B now, and let Vargas handle SS the rest of the way until Abrams is ready.

[Slateman]

At Rochester, Abrams is 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored, and Call is 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Rochester leads 10 - 3 in the top of the 7th.

Okay, so here me out.

If you're going to start guys like Franco and Cruz, then you arent fully committed to developing young guys at the MLB level. Furthermore, this coaching staff seems downright dreadful at actually coaching up players. Robles still makes dumb decisions and has improved at the plate from dreadful to merely bad. Garcia is the worst infielder in baseball. Cesar went from 21 home runs to none. Josh Bell somehow became a poor man's John Olerud. Ruiz lost any power he brought over from then Dodgers. And then there is Nelson Cruz, who has fewer home runs in the last two months than our quad AAAA, career minor leaguer has had in the last week.

Do we really want Abrams to be called up in to that bullcrap? Or do we maybe want to wait until new ownership gives the axe to everyone and starts from scratch?

[Elvir Ovcina]

Okay, so here me out.

If you're going to start guys like Franco and Cruz, then you arent fully committed to developing young guys at the MLB level. Furthermore, this coaching staff seems downright dreadful at actually coaching up players. Robles still makes dumb decisions and has improved at the plate from dreadful to merely bad. Garcia is the worst infielder in baseball. Cesar went from 21 home runs to none. Josh Bell somehow became a poor man's John Olerud. Ruiz lost any power he brought over from then Dodgers. And then there is Nelson Cruz, who has fewer home runs in the last two months than our quad AAAA, career minor leaguer has had in the last week.

Do we really want Abrams to be called up in to that bullcrap? Or do we maybe want to wait until new ownership gives the axe to everyone and starts from scratch?

This is frighteningly reasonable.

[bluestreak]

35,380

[Natsinpwc]

No reason to not give Abrams more MLB at bats this year. He is more capable defensively and they just need to move Garcia to 2B.  Get them used to playing with each other these last few weeks. 

[bluestreak]

No reason to not give Abrams more MLB at bats this year. He is more capable defensively and they just need to move Garcia to 2B.  Get them used to playing with each other these last few weeks.

Abrams was rushed to MLB because of the Tatis injury. And it probably stunted his development again. I’d leave him in AAA and let him develop a bit more.

[welch]

Abrams was rushed to MLB because of the Tatis injury. And it probably stunted his development again. I’d leave him in AAA and let him develop a bit more.

Move Garcia to 2B and leave him. That's his position in the future. No reason to train him into SS, which he can't play. Find a temporary short-stop until September, then bring up Abrams.

- Robles is a bad baseball-thinker. He never learned to play against people with talent. Maybe he's the Jeff George of CFs.

- Bell is a better fielder and better hitter than when the Nats got him.

- Ruiz has developed into a good catcher and a steady hitter. He has not hit many home runs, but that is OK. Wilson Ramos hit home runs, but he was a clumsy catcher.

- Cruz is a flop. He has been all season. A bad signing. A team ought to use the DH spot to give a decent-hitting position player a rest, or to find a spot for a guy recovering from injury. 

[English Natsie]

OK - so sometimes Fate sticks to the plan after all...

Loved Charlie's line - 'I don't think I've ever seen anyone do anything like that...'   

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Beautiful night for baseball. Park is pretty much at capacity. Don’t know if it’s Soto, the weather, Friday or some combo of all three. Haven’t seen the park like this in a while. Soto has gotten a good ovation every time he’s come up.

obviously it was the clear fanny pack give away

[imref]

obviously it was the clear fanny pack give away

our section was filled with 20-somethings out for the night, I only saw a couple of season ticket holder types near me who seemed to actually be focusing on the game. Most fans were gone by the 7th inning given how long the game took.

Concessions weren't bad if you ordered on-line. The hot chicken place near steak and shake was fantastic though $16 for a chicken sandwich is steep. A lot of the stands on the 300-level were closed.

Beautiful night for a game though.