Author Topic: The Rotation (2025): (Read 4811 times)

varoadking · « **Reply #25 on:** January 30, 2025, 10:36:51 pm »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on January 30, 2025, 09:57:15 pm

sorry. I am usually better at picking that up

Knit to worry...

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #26 on:** January 30, 2025, 10:36:52 pm »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on January 30, 2025, 08:17:56 pm

I know they nursed him along, but he still piled up 4.7 fWAR on 146 innings. I'd be happy if Gore just excels and gets us 5+ innings. It was important that he took the ball every 5 days.

That’s why I loved Corbin.

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #27 on:** January 30, 2025, 10:37:33 pm »

Quote from: varoadking on January 30, 2025, 10:36:51 pm

Knit to worry...

ouch. You really tried to thread the needle that time.

English Natsie · « **Reply #28 on:** January 31, 2025, 03:47:30 am »

Quote from: varoadking on January 30, 2025, 07:29:05 pm

JCA was trying to pull the wool over our eyes with that Crochet stat...

PWC - Need to fool another GM so we can trade him

What - trade JCA? Surely not!...

Dave in Fairfax · « **Reply #29 on:** January 31, 2025, 12:22:26 pm »

I hope these yarns don't cause the thread to spin out of control

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #30 on:** January 31, 2025, 01:37:45 pm »

Quote from: Dave in Fairfax on January 31, 2025, 12:22:26 pm

I hope these yarns don't cause the thread to spin out of control

has me in stitches

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #31 on:** February 20, 2025, 09:09:57 am »

articles from WaPo on Soroka (https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/02/18/michael-soroka-nationals/) and Cavalli (https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/02/19/cade-cavalli-nationals-spring-training/).

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #32 on:** February 20, 2025, 08:15:33 pm »

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/02/20/dj-herz-nationals-spring-training/

Profile of work Herz did in the offseason on his own and in West Palm with Doo to try to keep his delivery more steady so he can repeat it. Stand more on his back leg, shorter stride, etc...

Quote

Early in 2024 with Class AAA Rochester, with the help of the organization’s pitching coaches, Herz straightened out his delivery. After his June debut with Washington, his stuff was always better than his control, but he worked on his tempo and breathing, which helped. He spent the offseason working on the physical side — getting stronger and repeating his mechanics. Cutting out unnecessary movement and focusing on his back leg were priorities.

He felt great from the stretch, but not the windup. So he headed down to camp a little early. He threw with an audience — pitching strategist Sean Doolittle. Last year — and as Doolittle watched — when Herz pitched out of the windup, he took a big step backward, rocked and wobbled a bit, and held his glove up higher before he stepped forward and got into his cleaner mechanics.

Now, the wobble is gone. There’s no step backward. He takes a small step out with his front foot, preparing for that signature delivery. The whole thing seems smoother, more natural.
...
The coaches preach as much to him: When he’s in the strike zone, he’s fantastic. Missing bats with an in-zone fastball is a luxury in MLB. Among pitchers who threw at least 400 four-seamers in the zone, Herz’s whiff rate of 26 percent ranked sixth. (Herz also, quite comfortably, has the slowest fastball of those six. Again, think deception on the delivery and big arm-side movement.)

working on a breaking ball to go with the fastball and change.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #33 on:** February 20, 2025, 08:28:42 pm »

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/02/18/michael-soroka-nationals/

Quote

In 2019, Soroka was arguably one of the best young starters in baseball. His delivery made his pitches — specifically his sinker and breaking ball — deceptive and effective. But that delivery also played a factor in his Achilles’ injuries, as well as shoulder and arm discomfort. He couldn’t sustain his velocity.

Describes his work with a biomechanics guy, Bob Keyes:

Quote

Keyes studied Soroka’s delivery and uncovered a few things. His posture was imbalanced. His stride direction wasn’t toward the plate — he was landing closer to the third base line. He would lean back to make sure his pitch was in line, putting extra torque on his Achilles’ and the rest of his body. As a solution, Soroka changed his stride direction so his body could move more freely.

led to changes in pitch mix, including dropping the sinker from 44+% in his debut season to 10% last year when he moved to the bullpen. Will emphasize 4 seam, curve, and change as starter.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #34 on:** February 21, 2025, 03:41:17 pm »

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/02/21/mitchell-parker-nationals-spring-training/
continuing the Post's profile per day of rotation candidates, Golden today has a piece on Mitchell Parker, discussing his glaring problem fielding his position:

Quote

Oh, right. That. Before addressing the problem, a quick look at the positives. Parker was arguably the most unexpected success story of the Nationals’ 2024 season. The 25-year-old lefty, a fifth-round pick in 2020, arrived for Washington this past April and became the first Nationals pitcher to earn a win in his MLB debut since Stephen Strasburg. He remained in the rotation for the whole season, even though he had been called up because of injury. Parker finished with the most strikeouts (133) by a rookie in team history.

But Parker’s most glaring problem had nothing to do with the pitches he was throwing — it was his defense once the ball was in play. Parker finished with five errors, tied with four pitchers for the most at the position. Everyone else with five errors fielded their position cleanly at least 19 times. Parker had eight combined putouts and assists.

Some of Parker’s errors cost him extra pitches in an outing. Some proved to be the difference in the game.

stuff-wise, it's basically the same as last year, with a more efficient delivery with less movement per Hickey. In terms of fielding, he's taking lots of reps with Miguel Cairo, and Irvin is helping him mentally with avoiding negative thoughts and simply making plays.

Slateman · « **Reply #35 on:** February 21, 2025, 05:11:54 pm »

That's kinda funny. His biggest problem was that he clearly got tired and lost velo/spin in the second half.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #36 on:** February 21, 2025, 06:07:21 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on February 21, 2025, 05:11:54 pm

That's kinda funny. His biggest problem was that he clearly got tired and lost velo/spin in the second half.

fatigue was a problem. Article mentions the 2d half era (4.91), which was a run + higher than the 1st half. I would expect him to be stronger longer this year.

Of course, if he's not in the rotation, there would be less wear

Slateman · « **Reply #37 on:** February 22, 2025, 09:03:54 pm »

Wow, I didn't know he had the most strikeouts by a rookie in team history

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #38 on:** February 22, 2025, 09:40:38 pm »

Stras didn't get enough starts. Surprised JZ didn't top 133.

Smithian · « **Reply #39 on:** February 24, 2025, 01:28:11 pm »

What's everyone's rotation guessing before it becomes more obvious in next couple weeks?

I'm going

Gore
Irvin
Soroka
Williams

Start with four starters due to off day following opener. For game 10, you see Ogasawara called up.

Herz and Parker wore down last season. They delay their start and inevitably Soroka or Williams will after a couple starts earn their way to the bullpen. My guess is Parker is first up.

I like the rotation options. Keeps it interesting. If Mackenzie Gore and Jake Irvin take steps forward and you have a clear #1 and #2, the rest of the rotation looks a lot better when you're only hoping they become passable middle rotation arms.

Of course, if the Nationals worst-in-the-majors defense of the past few seasons were to jump to average, it would make everything work much better! One can dream!

imref · « **Reply #40 on:** February 24, 2025, 03:37:53 pm »

I think Herz is in the rotation if he has a good spring. He earned it last year.

GataNats · « **Reply #41 on:** February 24, 2025, 11:40:41 pm »

I’ll say it again. If Herz is not in this rotation, what are we even doing?

Smithian · « **Reply #42 on:** February 25, 2025, 10:20:38 am »

Quote from: GataNats on February 24, 2025, 11:40:41 pm

I’ll say it again. If Herz is not in this rotation, what are we even doing?

I want him in the rotation. I just see we have a bunch of arms and I'm fine giving Herz a bit more of a slow start. He's 24 and threw 84 MLB innings last season. I'd like to get him 28-30 starts this yea. I don't think it's incumbent we try to get 33 starts and 200+ IP out of him.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #43 on:** March 12, 2025, 07:55:32 pm »

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fixing-a-hole-while-teams-train-this-spring-to-stop-the-east-clubs-from-wondering-what-they-should-do/

Szymborski seems to like the way the Nats are building more than most. Likes the offensive core of young players (Abrams, Crews, Garcia, Wood) and likes the Lowe and Bell pickups too, but he thinks the pitching is the vulnerability. More depth needed. He suggests the Nats sign Spencer Turnbull. Good when healthy.

Watching Herz and Ogasawara flail makes me think another SP would help. As for the health issue, trust the docs. Not much of a loss other than money if he can't pitch.

varoadking · « **Reply #44 on:** March 12, 2025, 08:32:58 pm »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on March 12, 2025, 07:55:32 pm

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fixing-a-hole-while-teams-train-this-spring-to-stop-the-east-clubs-from-wondering-what-they-should-do/

Szymborski seems to like the way the Nats are building more than most. Likes the offensive core of young players (Abrams, Crews, Garcia, Wood) and likes the Lowe and Bell pickups too, but he thinks the pitching is the vulnerability. More depth needed. He suggests the Nats sign Spencer Turnbull. Good when healthy.

Watching Herz and Ogasawara flail makes me think another SP would help. As for the health issue, trust the docs. Not much of a loss other than money if he can't pitch.

Curious...which teams get blasted by the pundits for what they're doin'/not doin'? If not the Nats...surely there are some teams that must really flat out suck in their approach to 2025...

We're gonna finish in 4th in the Division...likely 20+ games behind both of the the top 2 teams. That can't bode well for 2026 either...

I love that this guy wants the Mets to sign Corbin...

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #45 on:** March 12, 2025, 08:45:21 pm »

Corbin to the Mets? Do it!

Slateman · « **Reply #46 on:** March 12, 2025, 09:02:14 pm »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on March 12, 2025, 07:55:32 pm

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fixing-a-hole-while-teams-train-this-spring-to-stop-the-east-clubs-from-wondering-what-they-should-do/

Szymborski seems to like the way the Nats are building more than most. Likes the offensive core of young players (Abrams, Crews, Garcia, Wood) and likes the Lowe and Bell pickups too, but he thinks the pitching is the vulnerability. More depth needed. He suggests the Nats sign Spencer Turnbull. Good when healthy.

Watching Herz and Ogasawara flail makes me think another SP would help. As for the health issue, trust the docs. Not much of a loss other than money if he can't pitch.

Its a lost season. I'd rather let Ogasawara try at the MLB level. He'll end up floundering or getting hurt, at which point, we can put him in Triple A to figure it out. By then Parker will be ready. If Herz figures out his crap, I'm sure there will be plenty of space.

nobleisthyname · « **Reply #47 on:** March 13, 2025, 06:28:20 am »

I was feeling a bit baseball content starved and so was listening to the Rates and Barrels podcast episode discussing the NL East even though I haven't played fantasy baseball since college.

For their Nats segment they said the entire rotation outside of Gore and maybe Herz was just a collection of 6th starters on a truly contending team. Despite what many of them showed last season I can't help but think that's a pretty accurate summary of the rotation as it currently stands.

Smithian · « **Reply #48 on:** March 13, 2025, 08:14:17 am »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on March 12, 2025, 07:55:32 pm

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fixing-a-hole-while-teams-train-this-spring-to-stop-the-east-clubs-from-wondering-what-they-should-do/

Szymborski seems to like the way the Nats are building more than most. Likes the offensive core of young players (Abrams, Crews, Garcia, Wood) and likes the Lowe and Bell pickups too, but he thinks the pitching is the vulnerability. More depth needed. He suggests the Nats sign Spencer Turnbull. Good when healthy.

Watching Herz and Ogasawara flail makes me think another SP would help. As for the health issue, trust the docs. Not much of a loss other than money if he can't pitch.

I’m a bit disappointed in lack of a “flash” signing this offseason, but overall I like all the moves evaluated in a vacuum.

Smithian · « **Reply #49 on:** March 13, 2025, 08:16:45 am »

Quote from: nobleisthyname on March 13, 2025, 06:28:20 am

I was feeling a bit baseball content starved and so was listening to the Rates and Barrels podcast episode discussing the NL East even though I haven't played fantasy baseball since college.

For their Nats segment they said the entire rotation outside of Gore and maybe Herz was just a collection of 6th starters on a truly contending team. Despite what many of them showed last season I can't help but think that's a pretty accurate summary of the rotation as it currently stands.

I don’t think this is wrong. Gore still may develop into a true #1, I think Irvin could develop into a legit mid-rotation starter, then it’s a bunch of guys we need to see if they’re starters on a winning team.

Figuring out pitching is why I grew on DeJong signing. We’ve had worst defense in baseball by defensive fWAR since 2020, and 3B was a big part of that issue ... and he may be Abrams insurances.

Getting *average* defense would help a lot figuring out what we have or don’t have in the rotation.