Sunshine Squad: 2025

[imref]

At this point, rays of sunshine can be found in individual performances. Gore had a good start. We can hope he takes his regular turn the rest of the season. Bullpen looked good except for the cannon fodder of Thompson and Shinno. Crews is starting to have hits fall in. Lile.

Crews is OPS'ng .777 over his last 7 games.  Abrams needs to take him to the Craps table.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Crews is OPS'ng .777 over his last 7 games.  Abrams needs to take him to the Craps table.

to be clear, I would hope for more than .777 from Crews, but it is a sign of him coming around. I think this  would have happened in  late May and June had he not gotten hurt. It's kind of a wasted year, but the sunshine part of this is that I think he'll be a good regular. There's lots of impressive parts of his game (speed generally, baserunning specifically, hard hitting with occasional loft, very good jumps defensively, nice arm), and I think his OBP will come around

[varoadking]

Only 5 6 7 8 games behind the Barves after this afternoon...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/five-things-i-liked-or-didnt-like-this-week-september-26/

Ben  Clemens raving about Nasim Nunez's defense. With multiple video clips of him torturing the Mets with amazing plays. He concludes:

Is Nuñez ever going to be an All-Star? Probably not. He can’t hit! But who cares? He clearly belongs in the major leagues. I perk up when the Nats are on defense because he might do something phenomenal. How many utility infielders can you say that about? I wish Nuñez a long and successful major league career – and I hope he spends that time hitting indifferently and making wizardly plays on defense. It’s the kind of skill set that I’d love to see more of in the game, even as I understand that offense is king. A team of nine Nasim Nuñezes probably wouldn’t be a powerhouse, but it would still be appointment viewing every night.

No mention of the HR explosion lately, which seems to have come out of nowhere.  Nasim Nunez - Making September Fun.

Above link also highlights  the game that ended on Daylen Lile's inside the park home run. Don't forget the miscues coupled with awesomeness  in the last  few innings.

[Smithian]

He should be starting SS next season.

[imref]

He should be starting SS next season.

Guess we need to decide if we're willing to trade defense for offense. I don't think it's realistic to think you get anything more than a Jacob Young level of offense out of Nuñez over the course of a season.

[Natsinpwc]

Guess we need to decide if we're willing to trade defense for offense. I don't think it's realistic to think you get anything more than a Jacob Young level of offense out of Nuñez over the course of a season.

Agree.  I would make Young the 4th OF and get more offense that way.  And hopefully you can improve offense from DH/1B.  Maybe 3B also.  Not unreasonable to think House will improve.  Catcher.  Well probably wont't get better on offense.  Defense needs to get better all over.  Will help the pitchers confidence. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

If we are going to field one glove first, light hitting position player, for now I think SS rather than CF makes sense. I think Lile, Wood, and Crews  across the OF, with a Franklin or Young as #4, works. Lose Luis and get 2 bats for DH and 1B. One could even be Bell, or, if you want to rotate an OF through DH, you can keep 2 of  Young, Hassell, Franklin, or your best bat in AAA.

[Smithian]

Guess we need to decide if we're willing to trade defense for offense. I don't think it's realistic to think you get anything more than a Jacob Young level of offense out of Nuñez over the course of a season.

And I'm fine with that at SS. I want for the Nats to finally after a decade plus shake being being death for pitchers who aren't elite strikeout guys.

[CALSGR8]

Nice to see this thread still exists! 

[Slateman]

I think Nunez' ability to work a walk will make him a bit better than Young

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think Nunez' ability to work a walk will make him a bit better than Young

Nunez's hitting in MLB is a big surprise.

I am now the head of the Nasim Nunez Admiration Society. We meet on the village green and extol batting small samples and recency bias. I'm guessing the pitching coaches are saying "challenge this stiff" in the pregame plans, which might explain the HRs but makes his walks more impressive.

[tomterp]

Nice to see this thread still exists!

Hello stranger!  We missed you at the meet and greet yesterday.

[Slateman]

Nunez's hitting in MLB is a big surprise.

I am now the head of the Nasim Nunez Admiration Society. We meet on the village green and extol batting small samples and recency bias. I'm guessing the pitching coaches are saying "challenge this stiff" in the pregame plans, which might explain the HRs but makes his walks more impressive.

Its a surprise but its also a small sample. Still, figure we can give it at least a half a season next year