The Sunshine Squad 2023: Gotta be better, right?

[Natsinpwc]

late jump so disacina held him. should have scored but decent chance wouldn't with the jump. probably figured bases loaded no outs would have been good enough

On the radio they were wondering why he held up at the start.  They didn’t seem to think the ball was ever catchable. I guess he lost it.

[Senatorswin]

On the radio they were wondering why he held up at the start.  They didn’t seem to think the ball was ever catchable. I guess he lost it.

I was watching the Giants feed and they said the same thing. They wondered why he held up when at no time it seemed the ball was catchable.

[welch]

Growing pains with Abrams.

[catocony]

He tends to make mistakes in bunches, which is indicative of inexperience.  I have no idea why last night was a nervous night for him, but when he makes one mistake it seems to mess him up for the rest of the game. 

[imref]

He tends to make mistakes in bunches, which is indicative of inexperience.  I have no idea why last night was a nervous night for him, but when he makes one mistake it seems to mess him up for the rest of the game. 

His throws were definitely weak,  but one was rushed after a diving stop and he didn't have time to get a grip on the ball.  IIRC, he followed it with another diving stop. He's getting to balls that most SS's wouldn't, so maybe that puts him out of position to make good throws?  I don't think Ian Desmond would have made half the grabs that Abrams has made so far.

[imref]

Zuck notes on Dominic Smith:

Through his first 22 games, Smith was batting a paltry .221 with one extra-base hit, leading to a .542 OPS. Over his last 11 games, Smith has hit a much more robust .389, with one double and one homer, equating to a healthy .976 OPS.

[RyanZimsKazoo]

Despite the lack of power in the lineup I have been extremely surprised at the ability of this team to score decently given the lack of a big bat.

Also they are not going to be a historically bad team which is news to me given how terrible they started the year off.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Despite the lack of power in the lineup I have been extremely surprised at the ability of this team to score decently given the lack of a big bat.

Also they are not going to be a historically bad team which is news to me given how terrible they started the year off.

I think the development of Garcia and even Robles into guys with an acceptable to good sense of the strike zone with  fewer whiffs on strikes has led to a lot of the death by 1000 cuts strings of hits leading to runs. Ruiz has always had this skill  too, and while Meneses and Smith and Thomas up to recently have not shown power, they too have  been consistently getting on .  It is a noticeable style of offense.  they don't run well, so it's not like the 50s CWS, the 80s Cards, or the good royals teams last decade, but it is surprisingly effective as sort of  the anti-TTO.

[Mattionals]

I had no idea that Jake Alu is from my hometown.

[Natsinpwc]

I had no idea that Jake Alu is from my hometown.

He is Felipe Alu’s long lost grandson.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He is Felipe Alu’s long lost grandson.

his uncle Bob was on good terms with desi.

[imref]

2.5 back of the wild card. Imagine if Cavalli didn't get hurt and we didn't have to start Kuhl.

[imref]

Dominic Smith last ten games: .387/.500/.419, .919 OPS, 165 wRC+, 15.8 BB%, 7.9 K%

[GburgNatsFan]

You're migrating from dad jokes to grampa jokes, aren't you.

his uncle Bob was on good terms with desi.

[UMDNats]

Dominic Smith last ten games: .387/.500/.419, .919 OPS, 165 wRC+, 15.8 BB%, 7.9 K%

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Dominic Smith last ten games: .387/.500/.419, .919 OPS, 165 wRC+, 15.8 BB%, 7.9 K%

wow. a .042 iso. that's what you get when a guy is a slap hitter with a great eye can't run.  So 2023 Nats.  something tells me the .429 babip might not last, but the bb% is interesting. locked in for now.

[UMDNats]

wow. a .042 iso. that's what you get when a guy is a slap hitter with a great eye can't run.  So 2023 Nats.  something tells me the .429 babip might not last, but the bb% is interesting. locked in for now.

An overall 93 OPS+ is crap for a 1B but on a team like this that is just trying to not be historically bad, you could do a lot worse. With his defense being plus you could even say it's better than a voit type mashing to a 105 OPS+ but with terrible d

[Mattionals]

An overall 93 OPS+ is crap for a 1B but on a team like this that is just trying to not be historically bad, you could do a lot worse. With his defense being plus you could even say it's better than a voit type mashing to a 105 OPS+ but with terrible d

Who is the Voit type you are referring to? As an aside, this post made me look at Voit's 2023 numbers and, wow, yea, dodged a bullet.

[zimm_da_kid]

Rotation and pen are wild card worthy.  Just need another bat and some luck.  Maybe that’s kieboom.  Maybe it’s Hassell.  Maybe we need to go get a rental bat at the deadline.

[imref]

Boswell is on board:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/05/12/nationals-rebuild/

[Senatorswin]

Boswell is on board:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/05/12/nationals-rebuild/

It's great to see a column by Boz. He's the best. He nailed it. At least now when I go to the park I have an expectation of some sorta good Washington baseball.

[Senatorswin]

Who would of thought the Nats this year would have a player at Rochester (Baker) hitting .355 with an OBP of .422 and we wonder if we bring him up where's he gonna play? Can Garcia play third?

[imref]

Garcia at third would be about equivalent to starting Luke Voit at 3rd.

It would make more sense to move Garcia to DH, Meneses to RF and Thomas to LF moving Call and Garrett to the bench. That frees up 2nd for Baker.

That gives you a lineup of:
1. Baker
2. Thomas
3. Meneses
4. Ruiz
5. Garcia
6. Smith
7. Candalario (until Kieboom is ready)
8. Abrams
9. Robles

That's a nice improvement IMHO.

[Slateman]

Who would of thought the Nats this year would have a player at Rochester (Baker) hitting .355 with an OBP of .422 and we wonder if we bring him up where's he gonna play? Can Garcia play third?

Or maybe we just slow roll a guy with less than 80 games above Single A. Pretty sure that .414 BABIP isnt sustainable

[Mattionals]

Or maybe we just slow roll a guy with less than 80 games above Single A. Pretty sure that .414 BABIP isnt sustainable

Yea, this. Dude has definitely propelled himself into some conversations with his hot start to the season, but we shouldn't be knighting him the starting job yet.